SAN DIEGO – No. 9 Point Loma dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader at No. 18 Vanguard (NAIA). The Lions overcame a late six-run deficit to take the first game 9-8 and carried that momentum to a 10-2 win in the series finale. (Mar. 6)
 
Game 1: Things were looking good for Point Loma after they put up runs in each of the first three innings and built an 8-2 lead after their half of the sixth, but Vanguard stormed back with a late-game comeback to take the first game of the doubleheader 9-8.
 
The Sea Lions were seeing the ball well early as they scored one in the first, two in the second and three in the third to go up 6-2. They tacked on a single run in the fourth on a solo home run by Baxter Halligan and another in the six when Otto Kemp scored on a wild pitch to go up 8-2.
 
Vanguard got one of those runs back in the sixth before adding four more in the seventh to make it a one-run game. With no outs in the eighth, Grady Conner hit a solo home run on an 0-2 count to tie the game at 8-8 before another solo shot by Aki Buckson later in the inning gave the Lions the lead for good.
 
Scott Anderson led the Sea Lions with three hits. Easton Waterman and Justin Ledgerwood each added two hits and two runs batted in. Brett O'Toole reached base three times, going 2-4 with a walk. Omar Ortiz powered the Lions' offense as he drove in four runs.
 
Point Loma's starter, Stirling Strong, went 4.2 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs. He did not factor in the decision. Jared Greer (1-0) earned the win and Matt Lester picked up his second save in as many days.
 
Game 2: Vanguard carried the momentum from its comeback in the first game and never trailed en route to a 10-2 win in game 2.
 
The Lions scored two in the first and two more in the second to jump out to a 4-0 lead. A two-run home run by Otto Kemp in the third cut the lead in half, but that is as close as PLNU would get as VU continued to add on.
 
Kemp finished the game a perfect 2-2 at the plate with a home run, two RBI and a hit by pitch. Izayah Alvarez singled before Kemp's home run to extend his hitting streak to 15 straight games dating back to last season. Landon Riker led Vanguard as he went 3-4 with two RBI and two runs scored out of his leadoff spot.
 
Brian Park (4-0) earned the win for Vanguard. He went four innings (in the seven-inning game) allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Baxter Halligan (0-1) took the loss for PLNU.
 
Team Records
No. 9 Point Loma (1-3, 0-0 PacWest), No. 18 Vanguard (19-3, 7-1 GSAC)
 
News and Notes
> Point Loma still leads the all-time series between the longtime GSAC foes 43-24
> This series was the first meeting between the teams since PLNU left the GSAC (2012)
> Kemp and Halligan were the only two batters to hit in the same position in the lineup all four games
> Halligan finished the series 5-12 with a double, a home run, four runs scored and two hit by pitches
> Point Loma pitchers struck out 32 batters in 30 innings
> The Sea Lions outhit the Lions in the series 36-29
 
Up Next
Point Loma will take next week off before resuming play on March 19 in its PacWest opener against Concordia. The first game of the doubleheader will begin at Noon.