FRESNO, Calif. - The Point Loma baseball team knows the result of every game in its final series is crucial to their postseason chances. Today the Sea Lions took care of business on the road as it swept a doubleheader from Fresno Pacific. In the opener, PLNU got six huge innings out of relief out of Noah Huggins and it came back to win 7-3 in 13 innings. In the late game, Kevin Lillicrop went eight innings allowing just seven hits to propel Point Loma to the 6-2 victory.
 
The Sea Lions, who are ranked No. 6 in the NCAA West Region, are now 30-17 on the season (21-13 PacWest). This is their third straight season reaching the 30-win plateau, which had not occurred since 2005-07. The losses drop Fresno Pacific to 19-24 (16-18 PacWest).
 
Game 1
Noah Huggins held Fresno Pacific scoreless over six innings of relief to allow Point Loma to defeat the Sunbirds, 7-3, in 13 innings.
 
PLNU fell behind 3-1 early and were struggling to score before Kellen Sheppard poked bases loaded single through the middle to tie the game at 3-3 in the fifth. The game remained that way in to the 13th thanks for great pitching by Huggins and the Sea Lions going 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position between the ninth and 12th innings.
 
Sheppard was again the guy that delivered the hit the Sea Lions were waiting for all game. After Micah Pries stole second base with one out, Sheppard singled up the middle to score him for his third RBI of the game. This then opened the doors for Point Loma to put up three more insurance runs in the inning as Gordner had a two-run single and Adam Rios added another RBI.  
 
Huggins held FPU scoreless over the final six innings, allowing just four hits and four walks. He also struck out four en route to improving to 2-1 on the season. He came into the game in relief of Stephen Young. Young went seven innings allowing six hits and three runs, while walking four and striking out three.
 
Game 2
Kevin Lillicrop (4-4) went eight innings allowing seven hits and two runs, while walking one and striking out four to lead Point Loma to the 6-2 victory in the late game.
 
Point Loma gave him an early 3-0 lead to work with as they score one in the first on an RBI-single from Harrison Ramey and two in the second on run-scoring singles from Kellen Sheppard and Colby Kaneshiro. Sheppard would finish the game 2-for-4 with an RBI. Wyatt Champlin collected three hits, including a double, for the Sea Lions. Ryan Garcia crushed his career-high 14th home run of the season in the fourth inning to extend the Sea Lions' lead to 4-0. This moved Garcia into a tie with Kerry Everett for third in school history with 32 career home runs.
 
Next games
PLNU and Fresno Pacific will close out the 2017 regular season on Tuesday, May 9 with another doubleheader starting at Noon. These continue to be crucial games for the Sea Lions in the hunt for an at-large bid to the NCAA West Regional. PLNU was ranked No. 6 in the last poll. The top 6 teams will advance.