ST. GEORGE, Utah - The No. 25 Point Loma baseball team lost two tough, heartbreaking games on Saturday, Mar. 25 against No. 19 Dixie State. In the opener, DSU scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to earn a 10-4 comeback victory. In the series finale, PLNU took a three run lead in extra innings only to see the Trailblazers answer with four runs in their half of the inning to win 8-7.
 
Point Loma is now 16-8 on the season and 8-4 in the PacWest. It has slid back to fourth in the conference standings after entering the weekend in first. Dixie State improved to 24-6 with the wins, and sits in second place in the PacWest at 13-3.
 
Game 1
Point Loma took advantage of a Trailblazers' error in the third inning to put four runs on the board, however they could not make it hold us as Dixie State scored seven runs in the eighth to comeback for the 10-4 win.
 
The first seven batters, and eight of the first 10, in the inning reached base for Dixie State in the eighth. All six of their hits in the frame were singles, and they also capitalized on a hit by pitch to start the inning which was followed by an error on an attempted sacrifice bunt.
 
Point Loma built its early lead on an error, a two-run single by Ryan Garcia and an RBI-double from Colby Kaneshiro. Kaneshiro would finish the game 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. He would finish the series 7-for-16 (.438).
 
Kevin Lillicrop took a no-decision for Point Loma. He went seven innings allowing seven hits and three runs (two earned) while walking three and striking out six. Patrick McMullen (2-2) took the loss for PLNU. Dixie State's starter Preston Hannay also received a no-decision. He went six innings allowing seven hits and four runs (one earned). Jose Rosales-Rodarte (2-0) earned the win in relief.
 
Game 2
Point Loma had a couple of chances to win the game as twice it led Dixie State during what could have been the final inning of play, but both times the Trailblazers came back and ultimately prevailed 8-7 in nine innings.
 
The Sea Lions' first overcame a 3-2 deficit in the sixth on a run-scoring error and an RBI-single by Harrison Ramey to go up   4-3. Dixie State answered with a single run in the bottom of the seventh, also as the result of an error, and sent the series finale to extra innings.
 
In the ninth, Kaneshiro doubled in two runs and scored on a wild pitch to give the Sea Lions a 7-4 lead. But the Trailblazers would not go down easy on their home field and rallied for four runs and the win.
 
Micah Pries was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a stolen base in the game. Garcia ad Mike Gordner also recorded multi-hit games. Logan Parker had two hits and three RBI for Dixie State.
 
Sea Lions' starter Stephen Young kept them in the game. He went seven innings allowing nine hits and four runs, but just one earned run, while walking none and striking out two. DSU's Tanner Howell (1-1 earned the win despite allowing three runs in his one inning of work.
 
Next games
The Sea Lions will return home to host California Baptist in a four-game series beginning on Thrsday, Mar. 30 at 3 p.m.