SAN DIEGO – Easton Waterman delivered a walk-off home run for the Sea Lions in game two of today's doubleheader helping the Sea Lions split the games with No. 17 Azusa Pacific.

Game one: Point Loma and No. 17 Azusa Pacific went back and forth in game one, matching each other run-for-run, but APU was able to grind out a victory over the Sea Lions 6-3.

The scoring for both teams happened early and often as five of the nine total runs scored were plated in the first three innings.

Azusa Pacific got the scoring started in the top of the first. Halligan retired the first two APU hitters on three pitches, but with two out the Cougars rallied to push across two runs and take an early 2-0 lead. Point Loma responded right back as four of their first five batters would hit safely bringing in two runs, and tying the game 2-2. Doubles by Brett O'Toole and Otto Kemp brought in the runs.

Otto Kemp put the Sea Lions in front with a solo home run in the third inning giving PLNU a 3-2 lead.

The starting pitchers for both teams would duel it out in the middle innings not allowing a run to score. Baxter Halligan finished the game going six innings, giving up two runs, and striking out six. A.J. Woodall twirled seven innings, giving up three runs, and striking out seven hitters.

Point Loma could only keep the APU bats down for so long. In the top of the eighth inning, the Cougars hit two home runs bringing in three runs and giving them a 5-3 lead. They would add on to that in the ninth to extend the lead to 6-3.
Headed to the ninth PLNU needed three runs to tie and four to win. The first two batters of the inning were retired, but that did not hold PLNU back. The next two hitters each walked, bringing the tying run to the plate. Unfortunately, Baxter Halligan would fly out and the Cougars took game one 6-3.

Game two: Easton Waterman's walk-off home run gave PLNU a 4-3 victory over the No. 17 ranked team in the country and PLNU a split on the day.

Azusa Pacific once again struck first, this time in the second inning, plating two on two sacrifice flies. They added onto their lead in the third with a single run giving them a 3-0 lead. That is all the Cougars would get for the rest of the game.

Point Loma cut the lead down to one after a Brett O'Toole single brought in two runs, one scoring after a throwing error by the centerfielder. After three innings, PLNU trailed 3-2.

Garkow was able to bear down the rest of the game allowing just one hit over his final four innings of work, en route to his second victory of the season. Garkow's final line was seven innings pitched, five hits, three runs, and six strikeouts.

In the fifth inning, Seth Ryberg delivered a two-out RBI single to left field scoring Otto Kemp. Kemp had singled and advanced to second and third via wild pitches before scoring.

 After shutting down the Cougars in the sixth and seventh inning the PLNU offense used that momentum to their advantage.

Easton Waterman dug into the box and delivered for the Sea Lions. On a 3-2 count Waterman uncorked a deep fly ball to left field, clearing the fence and walking the Sea Lions off for a 4-3 victory.

Words from Waterman
 
Decisions
Game one: WIN A.J. Woodall (6-0), LOSS Zachary Veen (1-1), SAVE Casey Dykstra
Game two: WIN Nathan Garkow (2-2), LOSS Cory Dawson (4-1)

Team records
Point Loma 9-17 (8-14 PacWest), #17 Azusa Pacific 22-8 (15-6 PacWest)

News and notes
> This was Nathan Garkow's second complete game of the season.
> Four of Point Loma's six home wins this year have come in walk-off fashion.
> This was Easton Waterman's first walk-off hit as a Sea Lion.
> Easton Waterman has two home runs on the season, both have come against APU.

Up next
The Sea Lions will travel to Azusa, Calif. tomorrow April 24 as they play a doubleheader against No. 17 Azusa Pacific.