SAN DIEGO-The top-seed flexed its strengths as the Point Loma Sea Lions (44-7 overall) grabbed a 7-2 victory to eliminate the Cal Poly Pomona Broncos (35-19 overall) Thursday afternoon at Carroll B. Land Stadium.

Behind the Region and PacWest Player and Pitcher of the Year, Baxter Halligan, the Sea Lions used their slugging prowess to open up a lead that the lefty pair of Halligan and Zach Veen sealed up over the back half of the game.

After three scoreless frames, the Broncos struck first on a solo home run in the top of the fourth.

The Sea Lions responded quickly as Halligan retrieved the run himself in the bottom half, with an RBI single to tie the game. Two batters later, Hunter Otjen blasted a three-run homer to give the Sea Lions a 4-1 lead.

The Broncos regained a run in the top of the fifth with an RBI double down the right-field line, but the Sea Lions found more breathing room in the bottom of the sixth as Easton Waterman banged a double off the left-field wall right before Jack Malone's two-run homer.

Malone's home run capped off a three-run sixth inning that put the Sea Lions up 7-2.

Hard-throwing lefty, Zach Veen, relieved Halligan of his duties and breezed through the Pomona lineup. He continued to show off his excellent control throwing 27 of his 34 pitches for strikes. Veen dealt for three strong innings, striking out two on the way to his fifth save of the year.

Halligan's strong day on the mound earned him his 12^th win of the year, which breaks the PacWest conference record for single-season victories. His three-hit day at the plate to compliment his pitching performance proved why Halligan was deemed both the PacWest pitcher and player of the year.

Point Loma's win, in addition to Northwest Nazarene's victory over Cal Poly Pomona in the first game of the day, eliminates the Broncos after a stellar run through the CCAA tournament that nabbed them the automatic bid.

The elimination of Cal Poly Pomona leaves just Point Loma and Northwest Nazarene to battle it out in what amount to a best of three for the right to advance to the Super Regional.

The Nighthawks are on their second trip to San Diego after opening their season with 8 games in Southern California, including 4 against the Sea Lions at Carroll B. Land Stadium.

The first game begins at 11:00 am on Friday with the Sea Lions being designated the visiting team for the first game. Point Loma will be the home team for the 2^nd game, scheduled for 2:00 pm.