LA JOLLA, Calif. - No. 2 seed UC San Diego scored 10 unanswered runs after the sixth inning to spoil the Sea Lions' early lead and come from behind for the 11-4 win.
 
No. 3 seed Point Loma built a 4-1 lead with a four-run fourth inning. Justin Ledgerwood and Michael Palos each drove in runs on RBI hits. Casey Dunlap reached on an error by the shortstop to extend the inning and score Ledgerwood from second. Palos would cross the plate later in the inning on a sacrifice fly by Travis Takata to complete the four-run inning.
 
That lead looked it might be enough with the way Stirling Strong was dealing on the mound. The junior lefty went five innings allowing four hits and one run. He walked four and struck out three. Unfortunately, for the Sea Lions,, his pitch count ran up quickly, and he was at 104 pitches after five innings. He was then pulled from the game, and that is when things started to turn in UCSD's favor.
 
The Tritons led off the top of the sixth with a hustle double and took advantage of a Point Loma error to score three runs in the inning and tie the game at 4-4. They built upon that momentum in the top of the seventh as the first five batters all singled, three coming via the bunt. UCSD would capitalize on the opportunity by scoring six runs in the inning to take a 10-4 lead. The Tritons added one more in the eighth to post their 10th unanswered run.
 
Keenan Brigman went 4-for-5 to lead a Tritons offense that outhit PLNU 13-9. Alex Eliopulos added three RBI. Colby Kaneshiro had three of the Sea Lions' seven hits, with all three going for doubles.
 
Preston Mott (8-1) earned the win for UCSD. He went seven innings allowing eight hits and four runs (two earned). He walked two and struck out four. Steven Elliott (2-2) took the loss for Point Loma.
 
Team records
#3 Point Loma (31-20), #2 UC San Diego (37-12)
 
Playoff implications
The loss puts PLNU one loss away from elimination. Point Loma will need to beat UCSD twice on Saturday to win the NCAA West Regional #2 and advance to the NCAA Super Regional next weekend. If UCSD wins the 3:30 p.m. game or the if-necessary game at 7 p.m. they will advance to the super regional.
 
 
Press conference with coach and student-athletes
Postgame press conference with coach Justin James
 
News & notes
> Kaneshiro has hit safely in all five playoff games over the past two seasons
> The four hits allowed by Strong matched his season-low
> Only one other time this season has Strong given up one run or less in a start
> PLNU has lost its last three matchups against UCSD, including 22-3 last year in the 2018 NCAA West Regional
> Point Loma fell to 3-10 when committing two or more errors
> Point Loma has never won more than one game in any West Regional
 
Next game
Point Loma will take on UC San Diego again on Saturday with PLNU facing elimination. The first pitch is scheduled for 3:30 p.m., and if the Sea Lions win, the teams will play again at 7 p.m.