SAN DIEGO - No. 17 Azusa Pacific took both games of a doubleheader from Point Loma in a matchup of two of the top teams in the PacWest Conference. The opener featured the pitchers with the top two earned run averages in the conference, PLNU's Stephen Young and APU's Michael Fairchild, but it was the Cougars that found a way to get on the board in a 2-0 pitchers' duel. In the late game, Azusa Pacific got another great start and scored early to win 9-2.
 
The wins, coupled with Dixie State's games being postponed at Hawaii Pacific, move APU (33-7, 20-6 PacWest) into sole possession of first place in the PacWest. PLNU slips to fifth in the standings at 13-11 (21-15 overall).
 
Game 1
APU's Michael Fairchild bested PLNU's Stephen Young in a pitchers' duel in the series opener, 2-0.
 
Young allowed just eight hits and two runs (one earned) over 8.1 innings of work. He walked five and struck out seven. Azusa Pacific had some chances early against Young, but did not break through against him until one out in the sixth when the Cougars posted back-to-back doubles to take a 1-0 lead. The other run came off an error in the ninth.
 
Despite suffering the first loss in his Point Loma career, Young (6-1) lowered his PacWest-leading earned run average to 1.47 on the season. He is now ranked 16th in the NCAA.
 
However, on this day APU's Fairchild (7-1) was just a little better. He scattered four hits and walked one batter over seven scoreless innings. He second in the PacWest in ERA at 1.99. Layne Henderson then came out of the bullpen. He pitched a scoreless eighth, and went back out there for the ninth. He promptly hit a batter and walked a batter and APU went to the pen for Mitch Williams.
 
After Mike Gordner sacrificed both runners into scoring position, Williams was able to defuse the jam with a strikeout and grounder to third for his second save of the year.
 
Tyler Flores had two of the Sea Lions' five hits. Pablo O'Connor was 3-for-5 with an RBI for APU.
 
Game 2
Adam Rios and Ryan Garcia each homered but those were the only runs PLNU managed against APU's starter Billy Oxford as they dropped the second game 9-2.
 
Azusa Pacific scored three in the second inning and added another in the third to give Oxford (8-1) an early lead to work with. He went eight innings allowing just a walk and four hits, including the home run to Rios. He struck out seven.
 
The home run for Rios came with one out in the eighth to break up the shutout. It was Rios' first career home run with Point Loma. He finished the game 2-for-3.
 
Ryan Garcia added his 11th home run of the season and 29th of his career in the ninth. He ranked fourth all-time in school history behind Kerry Everett (32), Brad Vericker (34) and Kurt Steinhauer (39).
 
Four different Cougars registered multi-hit games. Justin Gomez was 2-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. Mychael Gourdreau added three RBI.
 
Kevin Lillicrop (2-4) pitched well for Point Loma despite taking the loss. He worked through the error in the second and the run in the third before settling down and retiring 10 of the next 11 batters. He finished with 7.1 innings pitched. He allowed seven hits and five runs (four earned), while walking three and striking out four.
 
Next games
Saturday's doubleheader will be the final home games for Point Loma and they will also be Senior Day. The Sea Lions will have a ceremony for their 12 graduating seniors between tomorrow's games. The first game of the doubleheader will start at Noon.