RIVERSIDE, Calif. – The Point Loma baseball team took its first-ever PacWest series from No. 20 California Baptist; and the Sea Lions did it on the road. After splitting the first two games of the series, PLNU came from behind in both games on Saturday, winning the first game 9-7 and the finale 6-3, to sweep the doubleheader and earn the series victory.
 
Game 1: Point Loma faced off against a pitcher that was 5-0 with a 1.29 earned run average, and the Sea Lions chased him from the game after just four innings as they went on to win 9-7.
 
PLNU scored two in the first inning but then allowed single runs in each of the first three innings to fall behind 3-2. The Sea Lions rallied with four runs in the fourth to chase CBU's starter Andrew Bash from the game. Jarrett Lindsay provided the clutch hit with a two-out, two-run single to put PLNU back in front 4-3. However, the scoring didn't stop there as John Balliet made the Lancers pay with a two-run, opposite field homer to extend the lead to 6-3.
 
Point Loma would tack on a run in the seventh on a Colby Kaneshiro RBI-double and plate two more in the ninth on RBI-singles from Micah Pries and Travis Takata. Those last two runs would prove to be critical as CBU scored four runs in their half of the inning. But Balliet was able to come into the game and defuse the threat to post his fourth save of the season.
 
Stephen Young (3-2) earn his third straight victory in outbattling Bash. He went seven innings, allowing seven hits and three runs while walking two and striking out two. He retired nine of the last 10 hitters he faced, with the only runner reach via an error. Bash (5-1) took his first loss of the year as he went four innings, allowing eight hits and six runs.
 
Game 2: PLNU scored four unanswered runs between the sixth and seventh innings to comeback and defeat CBU, 6-3, and ensure the series victory.
 
After Adrian Collazo's fourth-inning, two-run homer gave PLNU its first lead at 2-1, CBU came back in the bottom of the fourth to tie the game on a Ryan Williams' RBI-single. In the sixth, Tyler Flores put the Sea Lions back on top with a two-out home run. It was his 13th home run and 42nd RBI of the season as he continues to lead the PacWest in both categories. PLNU would add on with three more runs in the seventh on run-scoring hits from Balliet and Kaneshiro to go up 7-3.
 
Wyatt Shackleford started for the Sea Lions and picked up his fifth straight win. He went 6.2 innings allowing seven hits and three runs. He walked two and struck out three. He ran into a little trouble in the seventh after three runners reached base with two outs, but Ernesto Romero came into the game and struck out the only hitter he faced for his second save.
 
Collazo would make the most of his rare start as he went 3-for-3 with a home run and two RBI. Flores posted two hits, including his home run and crossed the plate twice. Balliet posted two more hits and has now recorded six straight multi-hit games.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (17-12, 13-7 PacWest), California Baptist (16-10, 9-7 PacWest)
 
PacWest Implications
The victories jump PLNU into second place in the PacWest standings, just 3.5 back of first-place and the nation's No. 1 ranked team, Azusa Pacific (26-3, 16-3 PacWest). Point Loma is also 2.5 games ahead of third-place Biola. The losses drop No. 20 CBU into fourth place in the PacWest.  
 
Schaefer speaks
On PLNU bouncing back from yesterday's loss: "All day I was proud with how well the team responded after how bad yesterday went. Yesterday we couldn't do anything right, but everyone turned the page and moved on. We came out today and played the way we know we are capable of playing. The offense got it going early with competitive at-bats. We also got a phenomenal start out of Stephen Young."
 
On the offense: "Our offensive goal is to win every inning. It doesn't matter if it is 1-0 or if we are able to create some offense and get the big inning. We also want to have the biggest inning of the game on our side. Our offense understands that and they did a good job all day trying to make that happen."
 
On taking the series from CBU: "I was trying to think the last time we have taken a series from CBU at its place. I don't think we ever have since I've been a player or coach. Just going on the road and winning a series in their yard is huge, especially since we were able to do it a little banged up and shorthanded.  But we stayed tough and competed every pitch along the way."
 
On California Baptist: "They are a great team that does so many things well. They pitch well, play good defense and have a lot of guys in their lineup that can leave the yard at any time. You have to be really good on the mound to beat them because if you make a mistake they make you pay for it. To win a series against that caliber of team is huge and really sets us up with a little momentum going into next week."
 
News and Notes
> Five of PLNU's six runs in the nightcap came on two-out RBIs
> Tyler Flores now has 13 home runs while the rest of the Sea Lions have combined for 14
> California Baptist is the first ranked team Point Loma has beat this season
> In the series the three Sea Lion starters that earned wins combined to pitch 22 innings, allowing just 20 hits and six earned runs.
 
Up Next
The PLNU baseball team's next series will be Mar. 29-31 at third-place Biola (17-8, 9-6 PacWest). The teams will play single, nine-inning games on Thursday and Saturday, and a doubleheader on Friday.