SAN DIEGO – The Point Loma baseball team concluded their 2021 season with a split against Fresno Pacific today (May 8). Justin Ledgerwood led the charge in game one going 2-for-2 at the plate with two runs batted in, but PLNU fell 5-3. Dylan Miller threw his second complete game of the season lifting the Sea Lions to a 5-0 victory.

Game one: Justin Ledgerwood's 2-for-2 performance at the plate was not enough to propel the Sea Lions to victory in game one with PLNU falling 5-3.

Fresno Pacific got on the board first scoring a single run in the first two innings to take a 2-0 lead. PLNU got some momentum going in the second after Justin Ledgerwood singled through the left side on a two-strike count to cut the Sunbirds lead 2-1.

The senior Ledgerwood then tied the game up at 2-2 in the fourth inning with a solo blast to right field, his third of the season and 14th of his career.

Both starting pitchers recorded a quality start, allowing less than three earned runs and going six-plus innings. The Sunbirds got their third run in the top of the sixth inning on a solo home run.

Fresno Pacific tagged on two more runs in the seventh inning to extend their lead to 5-2. Point Loma scratched across a run in their home half of the sixth to cut into the FPU lead. With six outs to play PLNU trailed 5-3.

After both teams went away quietly in the eighth, and a shutdown inning by Zach Veen in the ninth the Sea Lions needed three runs to win. After the first batter was retired Otto Kemp drew a walk bringing the tying run to the plate. The Sunbirds recorded the second out before walking Scott Anderson on four pitches, bringing up senior Brett O'Toole. O'Toole, unfortunately, struck out ending the game with the Sea Lions falling 5-3.

Game two: A complete-game shutout from Dylan Miller and a four-run fourth inning is what PLNU needed to get back in the win column in their final game of the season.

 The first half of the game was a pitcher's duel with both starting pitchers not allowing a run and combining to only allow four hits in the first three and a half innings. Point Loma was able to break the game open in the bottom of the fourth.

The first three Sea Lion hitters each hit safely plating a run on a Jason Dumont single through the left side. Easton Waterman then brought another run home on a safety squeeze. After the Sunbirds intentionally walked Kemp, Baxter Halligan joined the hit parade with a single through the right side bringing in one more run. The Sea Lions were up 3-0 before a wild pitch brought Otto Kemp home for the fourth and final run of the inning.

Adam Axtell added a run on the board for the Sea Lions in the fifth with a solo shot to right field extending the PLNU lead 5-0.

Dylan Miller faced the minimum from the fifth inning on to capture his second complete game of the season, helping PLNU to a 5-0 victory.

Decisions
Game one: WIN Garrett Cooper (5-2) LOSS Stirling Strong (0-4) SAVE Matt Stearns (1)
Game two: WIN Dylan Miller (4-3) LOSS Michael Barker (0-2)

Team records
Point Loma 11-21 (8-16 PacWest), Fresno Pacific 18-18 (12-12)

Words from the student-athletes


Words from Head Coach Justin James:
On coaching this senior class: "This senior group will always hold a special part in this program and with me especially because they were here when I took over. It wasn't always easy but they helped set the culture that will be passed on for years to come."

More on the senior class: "These guys worked hard every day. We never had any issues with that whatsoever. Because of that, we won a lot of baseball games together, including two games in the regional in 2019. They continue to be Christ-followers in a faith-based program. That is very unique in baseball and you can't put a price on that. I am very grateful for all of them."

On Miller's start: "It is not luck why Dylan Miller is a good pitcher. He has fantastic tempo, he has the moxie and there are just some intangibles to certain individuals that you just can't teach. He is an animal out there. He loves to pitch, he loves to attack hitters and he can throw all his pitches for strikes any time he wants to, but most importantly, Dylan Miller is a straight battler."

News and notes
> This was Dylan Miller's third complete game of the season (one combined, two solos)
> Otto Kemp finished the season as the Sea Lions leader in home runs with 10.
> Nathan Garkow will finish the season with the team lead in strikeouts with 55.
> The Sea Lions out hit Fresno Pacific in the series 47-34.

Up next
This game concluded the 2021 Point Loma baseball season.