SAN DIEGO - For the first time since joining the PacWest Conference, the Point Loma baseball team took a season series from Dixie State. After starting the four-game set with a doubleheader sweep on Friday, PLNU dropped Saturday's opener 12-9 in extra innings, before bouncing back behind a complete game effort from Wyatt Shackleford to take the series finale 3-0. 
 
Game 1: In a game that saw four different lead changes, it would be a three-run 10th-inning rally by the Trailblazers which decided the game.
 
The comeback by the Trailblazers spoiled a great day from John Balliet who hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fourth inning which put PLNU in front early at 6-3. He would finish the game 2-for-5 with a home run and four RBI. Tyler Flores extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a 4-for-5 performance. He was just a home run short of the cycle. He now has 23 RBI in the Sea Lions' first 13 games.
 
The teams combined to use 14 pitchers in a game that took nearly four hours. Tanner Howell (2-0) earned the win out of the bullpen as he went the final 4.1 innings.

Game 2: Wyatt Shackleford (1-1) stepped up when the Sea Lions needed it most to deliver the team the series victory. PLNU was unsure who it would throw in game 4 of the series, but Shackleford came through with the shutout in a 3-0 win.
 
He pitched all seven innings, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out eight. He retired nine straight Trailblazers at one point.
 
The PLNU offense was able to get him the early lead with two runs in the first, and another in the second, and he held on for the victory.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (7-6, 3-1 PacWest), Dixie State (5-9, 1-3 PacWest)
 
Schaefer speaks
On Shackleford: "Shack was outstanding. That was the best case scenario for us when we started game 4. We went into the series with game 4 as a TBD, in terms of our starting pitcher. We thought Shack was the best option and a guy that could get us the deepest into the game. I was very, very impressed how well he threw that game."
 
On opening PacWest with series win: "The goal at the start of every week is to win the series. To do it against a team like Dixie State is very impressive. They are a good team with really good players, so for us to get three out of four to open conference play is a big deal. Hopefully it gives us a little momentum going into Hawaii."
 
On playing better defense/less errors: "That is what preached from the beginning; if we can play catch and put zeroes in the error column, or give them walks and extra opportunities to score, then we have the chance to be a pretty good team. I know we can score offensively, it's just a matter if we can play catch and pound the strike zone. If we can do those things we have a chance to be pretty good."  
 
News and Notes
> Tyler Flores has hit safely in all 13 games this season
> Shackelford is the first Sea Lion pitcher to post a shutout this season
> In the series, starting pitchers Irvin, Abshire and Shackleford combined to pitch 19.1 innings, allowing 14 hits and three runs, while striking out 17
> Flores leads the PacWest with 23 RBI, five ahead of second place
> Flores is second in the PacWest with a .480 batting average and a .980 slugging percentage
 
Up Next
Point Loma will head to Hawaii for a pair of series over spring break. PLNU will open the trip by facing Hawaii Pacific (Mar. 3 & 5) and then take on Hawaii Hilo (Mar. 8-10).