SEASIDE, Calif. - The Point Loma baseball team bounced back from a 10-1 loss in game 3 of the series against No. 21 Cal State Monterey Bay with an 11-3 win in the series finale. Colby Kaneshiro had a huge three-run homer in the second inning, and Connor Barrett came through with a big start on the mound to aid in the victory, and allow PLNU to take the series 3-1.
 
Game 3: Cal State Monterey Bay jumped on PLNU with four runs in the first and two more in the second. The Otters would seal the game with one more run in seventh and three in the eighth.
 
Kokko Figueiredo moved up in the lineup and went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Kyle Czaplak added a three-run homer in as part of the four-run first inning.
 
Jarrett Lindsay was the only Sea Lion to post a multi-hit game as he went 2-for-3 with a walk. PLNU's lone run came on John Balliet's double in the fifth.
 
Game 4: Facing the critical game of the series to see whether the Sea Lions would split or go home with a series victory against the No. 21 ranked Otters, coach Justin James, turned to the senior Connor Barrett for his first career start.
 
Barrett did not back down from the challenge or the opportunity to step up for his teammates. The 6-4 righty from San Jose took the ball and went one time through the order delivering 2.0 scoreless innings to set the Sea Lions up for victory.
 
When Barrett left the contest, PLNU was winning 3-0 thanks to another three-run shot by Colby Kaneshiro against the Otters, just like he did last year in the playoffs. Kaneshiro had flopped placed with Takata in the order earlier in the day, and the move paid off in the second inning. After Justin Ledgerwood walked to leadoff the inning, Takata dropped down a bunt hit to put two on for the senior designated hitter. Just like last year in the regional, Kaneshiro fell behind in the count 0-2, but he found a way to lift the ball over the wall a the three-run homer.
 
Cal State Monterey Bay would erase the Sea Lions' early three-run lead with a three-run rally in the third. PLNU would answer with a two-out rally in their half of the fourth inning, and would never again surrender the lead. The Sea Lions were helped by two errors in the inning, which resulted in all five runs being unearned. Takata capped off the inning with a two-run, bases-loaded single.
 
With the lead in hand, the Sea Lions' bullpen was outstanding. Nathan Garkow pitched the fourth and fifth innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out one. Steven Elliott pitched a perfect sixth and seventh innings. He retired all six batters he faced, striking out two. Ryan Casper (1-0) earned the victory.
 
Travis Takata went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored. Kaneshiro scored three times to go along with his three-run homer. Miguel Cazares posted his first career multi-hit game going 2-for-4. PLNU outhit CSUMB in the series finale 12-6.

Team Records
Point Loma (5-2, 0-0 PacWest), #21 Cal State Monterey Bay (2-4, 0-0 CCAA)
 
Words from coach James
On winning the series on the road: "Being on the road and winning a series is huge, but doing it in a tough place against a team that is annually in the NCAA West Regional, makes me very proud of the way these guys competed all weekend."
 
On bouncing back in game 4: "After game 3 in our meeting we talked about no matter if we are up big or down big, that our energy stays consistent. We continued to grind it out in game 3, and that allowed us to have a good feeling going into game 4. Colby absolutely crushed that ball early in game 4 to help us get the momentum. Connor Barrett being able to pitch well one time through the lineup in the starters role was huge for us."
 
More on the series win: "Everyone contributed this weekend. Steven Elliott was absolutely excellent both times he got the ball in pressure situations. I am proud of him. Nathan Garkow also pitched twice in the series. Both helped us get through a tough lineup and set us up for a series win."
 
On upcoming series: "We have to continue to play good baseball. It starts on the mound. When we are throwing strikes, we play really good defense. Our offense is starting to get more comfortable with the approach, so I think we are getting closer to where we want to be."
 
News and Notes
> PLNU had never won a series at Cal State Monterey Bay
> This is Point Loma's first series win over a top 25 team since #20 Cal Baptist in 2018
> Elliott has not allowed a run and has given up just one hit, in four appearances (3.0 innings)
> Both Kaneshiro's three-run homers against CSUMB came after he was down 0-2 in the count
> With singles in both games, Pries has now reached base safely in 30 straight games
> Otto Kemp has a six-game hitting streak to start his career
 
Up Next
The Sea Lions will return home to welcome in UC Colorado Springs for a three-game series starting on Friday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.