SAN DIEGO - The Sea Lions got two of their most clutch pitching performances of the season to take both games of Saturday's doubleheader and earn a series split with California Baptist. Noah Huggins stepped up with six strong innings out of the bullpen and allowed PLNU to chip away at a five-run deficit and comeback for the 11-10 walk-off victory. In the series finale, Stephen Young tossed his second shutout of the season, while striking out six, to lift PLNU to the 3-0 win.
 
The victories snapped Point Loma's seven-game losing streak and kept them in fourth place in the PacWest standings at 10-6 (18-10 overall). CBU remains in third place in the PacWest standings at 13-7 (22-12 overall).
 
Game 1
Point Loma found itself down 7-2 after two innings, and things were not looking good. That is when coach Joe Schaefer called on Noah Huggins out of the pen. Huggins would give the team the emotional boost it had been looking for all weekend as he put up six straight scoreless innings as the Sea Lions continued to chip away at the lead.
 
"That was six-plus solid innings out of him that saved the game for us," said Point Loma head coach Schaefer. "Noah's six innings out of the bullpen completely saved that game and allowed us the chance to chip away at the lead. His performance literally gave us the opportunity to win the game."
 
A three-run rally in the third, followed by two more runs in the fourth on an RBI-single by Kellen Sheppard and a sacrifice fly from Mike Gordner tied the game at 7-7 for Point Loma in the fourth. Sheppard would give the Sea Lions the lead with a bases loaded single in sixth to put PLNU up 9-7. CBU mounted a rally of its own in the ninth with three runs to take back the lead 10-9, but the Sea Lions did not quit and mounted a game-winning rally in the bottom of the ninth for their second walk-off win of the season.
 
Colby Kaneshiro started the inning with a triple down the right field line. Pinch hitter Ryan Casper then doubled in pinch runner Kyle Gracey with the game-tying run. Preston Sands came to the plate and coach Schaefer had him bunt to move the runner into scoring position. Sands put the very first pitch he saw out in front of the plate and CBU's catcher pounced on the ball with the intention of cutting down the runner going to third. But Bryce Macy spiked the ball and it skipped passed the third baseman down the left field line allowing Casper to scamper in with the winning run as his teammates mobbed Sands between second and third base.
 
"We had a long talk yesterday about what we need to get back to offensively," said Schaefer. "We emphasized what makes us successful, and the guys took it to heart today. We also benefitted from some walks today, and when we get free passes we can be a pretty good offensive team. Pair that with getting back to what we do well offensively and we are starting to play better baseball."
 
Huggins took a no-decision after CBU rallied to take the lead in the ninth but he was the difference for the Sea Lions in the win. He went six innings allowing three hits and two runs, while walking three and striking out five. He threw 100 pitches out of the bullpen. Patrick McMullen (3-2) earned the win as he shut down CBU's rally from getting any bigger in the ninth. CBU's closer Brody Robinson (1-2) took the loss.
 
Game 2
Stephen Young threw his second shutout of the season, allowing just two hits and one walk, while striking out six to lift Point Loma to the 3-0 victory in the series finale.
 
He needed just 83 pitches to get through seven innings, three of which CBU went down in order. No Lancer ever got past second base and only once did they get their leadoff runner get on.
 
"(Stephen Young) is unbelievable and I can't say that enough," said Point Loma head coach Joe Schaefer. "Every time he steps on the mound we just expect a win and he just goes out and dominates. He works fast, gets ahead in the counts and just induces bad contact time and time again. He has been our best guy all season long, and that was a huge outing right there when we really needed it."
 
Young was backed offensively by a solo home run from Micah Pries in the first, a two-out RBI from Adam Rios in the fifth and another solo shot by Kellen Sheppard in the sixth. Pries and Sheppard each now have three home runs on the season.
 
Point Loma outhit CBU 7-2 in the contest and left just two runners on base.
 
"The wins are nice but for me the most important thing of the weekend was that we got back to playing good baseball," Schaefer explained. "Whatever happened result-wise was going to happen today but I just wanted to make sure we got back to playing good baseball."
 
Next games
Point Loma will now prepare to play a split series with fifth-place Concordia next weekend. The teams will play a doubleheader at PLNU on Friday and at Concordia on Saturday.