SAN DIEGO – The Point Loma baseball team got their first conference victory over Holy Names by a score of 4-3. Baxter Halligan played hero in game one. The Sea Lion sweep was cut short due to darkness and game two will be picked up tomorrow at 10 am.
GAME ONE: The bats started off hot for the Sea Lions recording five hits in the first three innings. The third hit of the game would put Point Loma up 1-0 after Otto Kemp uncorked on a baseball for his third home run of the season. After the Kemp home run, PLNU put the next three hitters on to load the bases. Brett O'Toole then dug in. O'Toole sent a screaming line drive to left-center field where the Holy Names centerfielder went full extension to make the grab. Although an out was recorded Jarrett Lindsay tagged up from third and came into score.
The Hawks would answer right back in the top of the fourth tying the game 2-2 on two hits and two walks. One of the hits was a home run by Dominic Masciel who is currently fifth in the PacWest in home runs.
In the sixth the Hawks would load the bases before Coach James would make a pitching change, signaling to the bullpen for Jerry Quemada. Zack Noll would exit the game going 5.1 innings pitched striking out nine and allowing three runs. Quemada would do a good job of limiting the damage. He inherited three runners allowing only one to score.
The Sea Lions threatened in the bottom of sixth loading the bases with two outs but could not find a critical hit to push a run across. After six innings of play, the Sea Lions would trail Holy Names 3-2.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, the Sea Lions loaded the bases once again and James Halpin delivered. On the first pitch, he saw he hit a sharp ground ball to first base. The HNU first basemen made a diving snare and take it to first to record the out. For the Sea Lions on the play, Otto Kemp came in to score and tie the game 3-3.
Both teams did not scrape a run across in their respective half of the ninth and the game would go to extra innings tied 3-3. Neither team would score in the tenth either.
Quemada made quick work of the Hawk hitters in the top half of the 11th and the Sea Lions took that momentum to the plate. After the Hawks retired the first Sea Lion of the inning the next three reached base. With the bases loaded and one out, Baxter Halligan looked to be the hero. He would work the count full before taking the seventh pitch of the at-bat for a ball and ending the game as Easton Waterman came across to score.
Quemada pitched a season-high 5.1 innings allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out four hitters on way to pick up his first win of the season. After coming on in relief in the 11th for the Hawks Cade Balma picked up his first loss of the season.
GAME TWO: Game two was suspended due to darkness and will be picked up tomorrow at 10 am. The Sea Lions currently lead 10-1 after seven full innings.
Team Records
Point Loma (7-7, 1-0 PacWest), Concordia (9-12, 0-5 PacWest)
News and Notes
> With his home run in the first game today Otto Kemp now leads the Sea Lions in home runs with three.
> Otto Kemp came up a triple short of hitting for the cycle in game one.
> Jerry Quemada pitched a season-high 5.2 innings in relief.
> This was the second walk-off walk for the Sea Lions this season (Feb. 1 vs. MSU Billings).
Up Next
The Sea Lions will finish the rest of game two tomorrow starting at 10 am followed by their regularly scheduled doubleheader.
