AZUSA, Calif. - Things went about as bad as they could have for the Point Loma baseball team against their crosstown rivals UC San Diego in the first round of the NCAA West Regional on Thursday, May 17. The No. 3 seeded Tritons put up crooked numbers in each of the first three frames to take an 11-0 lead after three innings as they rolled to a 22-3 win over No. 4 seed Point Loma.
 
Zander Clarke was cause for nearly all the damage early as he had two home runs and six RBI in the first two innings.  He finished the game 3-for-5 with two home runs, seven RBI and two runs scored. Designated hitter Blake Baumgartner went 4-for-4 with three RBI and Keenan Brigman also collected four hits.
 
Adrian Collazo was the offensive standout on the evening for the Sea Lions. He had three hits, including a two-run homer to break up the shutout in the sixth. Adam Rios and John Balliet also posted a multi-hit games for PLNU.
 
With the loss, Point Loma's back will be against the wall as it can't afford another loss in the double-elimination NCAA West Regional.
 
Team Records
Point Loma (33-17), UC San Diego (39-15)

Words from coach Schaefer
On the importance of not giving up walks and other free baserunners: "It is 100 percent magnified in this ballpark, but also with the opponent we were playing. When anybody in the lineup 1-9 can leave the yard, you can't give up extra baserunners because the solo home runs quickly turn into two-, three- or four-run shots."
 
On the game: "We just didn't pitch well today. When you get down that big, that early, it makes it very difficult to come back and even mentally stay in the game."  

News and Notes
> This was PLNU's second appearance in the NCAA West Regional (2015)
> UCSD eliminated Point Loma in the 2015 Regional with a 7-5 win
> Garett Irvin had never allowed more than three runs in any of his 13 starts this season
> Irvin had allowed only 16 earned runs entering tonight's start
> The 22 runs allowed in the game are the most for PLNU since giving up 23 to Biola in 2000
 
Up next
The Point Loma baseball team will be back in action tomorrow at 3 p.m. against No. 1 seed Cal State Monterey Bay in an elimination game for the Sea Lions.