SAN DIEGO - The Sea Lions made sure to send their nine seniors out in style as they took both games of the doubleheader from Fresno Pacific to complete the series sweep. It did not come easy as the Point Loma baseball team had to come from behind each game. First it was Tanner Handa helping himself earn his first career victory on the mound with a walk off sacrifice fly for the 6-5 win in the bottom of the ninth. In game two, PLNU fell behind early before scoring five unanswered runs for the 6-3 victory.
 
The Sea Lions complete the season at 32-16, and finish fourth in the PacWest (21-13). They also end the year on an eight-game winning streak. Fresno Pacific finishes the year at 20-29 and in seventh in the PacWest standings (15-20).
 
Game 1
Tanner Handa came in from shortstop to pitcher in the top of the ninth and shut down a FPU rally before delivering a sacrifice fly with the bases loaded to score Mike Gordner with the game-winning run in the bottom of the inning, 6-5. 
 
It was the first career victory for Handa who usually play the infield for the Sea Lions. He came into pitch in a two-run game (5-3) with two runners on. He allowed one single which tied the game, but he found himself in a situation with one out and a runner on third. First Handa struck out pinch hitter Angel Flores and then Zac Smit lined out to the shortstop to end the inning with the game tied at 5-5.
 
In the bottom of the ninth with one out, Mike Gordner and Matt Jervis laced back-to-back singles and the Sunbirds then intentionally walked Joseph Keller to get to Tanner Handa, and he made them pay. He lined a 2-1 pitch to medium-deep centerfield to easy score Gordner from third.
 
"We knew he had good stuff and guts but he did not have that many innings on the season, and he stepped up in a pivotal moment," said Point Loma head coach Joe Schaefer. "Tanner did an excellent job slamming the door on what looked like it was going to be a big rally out of Fresno Pacific in the ninth. Then at the plate he stayed calm and within himself to get that winning run home.
 
"Getting the leadoff guy on to get a rally started was huge and Jervis getting a big swing was awesome," Schaefer continued. "Our guys have been doing it all year and they don't get down on themselves if we give up a lead. They know they are capable of scoring late and they did it again today." 
 
As exciting as a walk off is coach Schaefer probably would have liked to see the game end a bit differently as the Sea Lions had a 5-1 lead going into the ninth. PLNU scored one in the first without the benefit of a hit as they drew two walks and FPU uncorked a wild pitch before Kellen Sheppard brought home the run with a sacrifice fly. The Sea Lions added three more in the sixth and another on a wild pitch in the seventh.
 
Kevin Lillicrop, who is usually the game 4 starter, was excellent on the mound for the Sea Lions. He allowed just three hits and two walks over seven innings while striking out six. He had retired 14 of the last 15 batters, and the previous nine in a row, before his pitch count caught up with him at 106 pitches. He would receive a no-decision.
 
"Kevin did a great job," said Schaefer. "Ever since Hawaii he has been impressive and I am very proud of him. He had to rebound from last year, and essentially earn his starting spot back, and he did more than earn it. He turned into one of our best guys all year. He did another great job today to give us a chance to win that game."
 
Tanner Handa (1-0) allowed just the one hit and no earned runs in his inning of work. He also struck out one en route to his first career victory. He ends his career on the mound not allowing a run in four innings of work.
 
Harrison Ramey, Devin Carter and Kellen Sheppard each had two hits for Point Loma. Sheppard added two RBI and a run scored. Handa also drove in a pair of runs. Carter had a double, stolen base and scored two runs.
 
Nick Pate (0-2), normally the Sunbirds' first baseman, took the loss after being charged with the winning run. At the plate, Pate was 2-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
 
Game 2
The Sea Lions were down 3-1 after four innings before they scored five straight to win the nightcap 6-3, and send all PLNU fans into the offseason on a good note.
 
Point Loma capitalized on opportunities late in the game as they scored four runs as part of a fifth-inning rally, that was capped off by Mike Gordner's 10th home run of the season that turned the deficit into a 5-3 lead.
 
"This was a flip-flop of the other three games in the series," Schaefer explained. "The other games we scored early and just rode it out, but this time it was Fresno that scored early. There was no panic out of the offense. The guys stayed calm and we waited for our opportunities later in the game. We were able to take advantage of that chance (in the fifth) and put up a big number to take the lead."
 
That comeback was made possible by great bullpen work as Noah Huggins and Coleman Huntley III did not allow a runner on base in their combined three innings of work. Huggins earned his first victory of the season with two perfect innings of work. Huntley pitched the seventh inning and final inning in this shortened game. He struck out a pair and did not allow a hit to pick up his sixth save of the season, and 19th of his career.
 
"The bullpen did a great job, not just today, but all series," Schafer explained. "Noah Huggins did a wonderful job. His two scoreless innings were awesome and much needed.
 
"Coleman had a great series," Schaefer added. "He pitched in three of the four games and did a really good job all three times."
 
Gordner and Ryan Garcia each had two of the Sea Lions' six hits. Gordner was 2-for-3 with a home run, an RBI and the game-winning run. Garcia drove in his 59th run of the year to move to sixth place in Point Loma single-season history.
 
Coach Schaefer's season-ending quote
"This can be the way (NCAA) Division II baseball can work," said Schaefer. "We had virtually the same year as last year, but this time we don't get in (to the NCAA West Regional) unfortunately. But this team really did a good job all year long. I think if we could have played catch a little bit better defensively throughout the year we might have been able to flip a couple of losses into wins, but overall this team did an exceptional job competing and battling against good teams. I really like the building blocks we have going into next year and I expect big things out of next year's squad."