SAN DIEGO - The big inning jumped up and bit the Sea Lions once again in their rubber game against Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros broke out for five-run fourth inning and then held off a late Point Loma rally to defeat the Sea Lions 6-5. (Feb. 17)
 
Eduardo Frayre-Cerda connected on a two-run homer to start the fourth-inning rally for the Toros. Daryl Donerson went 3-for-5 and Kai Gomez was 2-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot to fuel the Toros' offense.
 
PLNU trailed 6-2 going into the eighth inning before Tyler Flores connected on a three-run homer to make it a one-run game (6-5). It was his fifth homer in nine games this season, but unfortunately, that is as close as Point Loma would get. Flores drove in four of the Sea Lions' five runs and finished 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and a run scored. John Balliet (2-for-4) was the only other Sea Lion to record a multi-hit game.
 
Joe Mercado (1-1) earned the win for CSUDH. He went six innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs while walking two and striking out two. Matt Stearns earned the save after shutting after down PLNU's eighth inning rally and then pitching a perfect ninth. Stephen Young took the loss after allowing five runs (three earned) in 3.1 innings.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (4-5), Cal State Dominguez Hills (3-3)
 
The Turning Point
The five-run fourth buried the Sea Lions. Although Frayre-Cerda hit the two-run homer, it was the additional three runs the Toros put up that got them all the momentum and caused the Sea Lions to play catch-up the rest of the contest.
 
Schaefer speaks
On Flores: "He is feeling it right now. He is not missing it when he gets a pitch to hit. That is huge to keep that going the rest of the year. The plate discipline wasn't there early but it is getting better with every game. He is laying off the pitches he should to get to the pitches he can do damage with."
 
On CSU Dominguez Hills: "The pitched really well all series. They weren't overpowering, but just like Cal State Monterey Bay, they consistent throw strikes down in the zone, don't put runners on and make you work for every base runner. It is hard to win ball games when you have to hit your way to victory. When you have to string three hits together in an inning to score it is very difficult. They did a good job."
 
On what to do before starting PacWest play: "We have to get much better on the mound. We pitched well on Thursday and Friday but we can't just rely on two or three guys moving forward. We need some guys to step up out of the bullpen. If we can get better on the mound and become more consistent, I think everything will start falling into place."

News and Notes
> Micah Pries and Tyler Flores have all hit safely in all nine games this season
> Flores has homered in five of the first nine games this season and has seven extra base hits
> PLNU has homered in every game this season
> Only twice this season have PLNU pitchers worked through the sixth inning
> Point Loma used eight pitchers
 
Up Next
Point Loma will open PacWest play next week when it hosts Dixie State on Feb. 23-24. The teams will play doubleheaders on both Friday and Saturday starting at 11 a.m.