SAN DIEGO-Needing a heroic performance to stave off a familiar foe's valiant comeback attempt, the Point Loma Sea Lions (47-7 overall) received a double-dose from Baxter Halligan to hold on to an 8-7 victory over PacWest rival Azusa Pacific (37-19 overall) in the 1^st game of the West Super Regional Friday afternoon at Carroll B. Land Stadium.

Halligan, the PacWest, D2CCA, and NCBWA Pitcher of the Year, was his dominant self, recovering from an early solo homer and retiring 21 of the 22 batters he faced while breaking the PacWest's single-season strikeout record with a 10 K performance that left him in line for his 13^th win of the season.

"Baxter was Baxter," Point Loma Head Coach Justin James said. "He was outstanding. He pounded the zone. No walks, we preach just pounding the zone like crazy and he's a master of that. He's just tough. He's one of the toughest guys I've ever coached."

After APU rallied against the PLNU bullpen, Halligan's 3-5 day at the plate ended with the game-winning RBI as well.

But it was Halligan's electric start that set the tone, despite an early hiccup. Halligan struck out six of the first seven hitters he faced to keep the electricity in the atmosphere.

Will Stroud broke up Halligan's strikeout display with a one-out homer in the top of the first, giving Azusa Pacific the 1-0 lead.

Point Loma's offense responded when Jason DuMont started the 3^rd off with a single before Otto Kemp followed suit to move DuMont to third. Scott Anderson delivered Point Loma's first run with a sacrifice fly to even the game at 1-1.

While the game's starters, AJ Woodall and Halligan, limited the offenses to the lone runs for the first four and a half innings, Point Loma broke through in a big way in the bottom of the fifth.

The inning started with Kemp's leadoff single before he moved to third on a liner into right field off the bat of Halligan. With two runners on,  Hunter Otjen's RBI single gave PLNU the 2-1 lead and started the onslaught.

Jakob Christian delivered a single before Easton Waterman's sacrifice bunt was thrown away to bring a run on each. Jack Malone added a sacrifice fly before DuMont doubled off the wall to make it a 6-1 lead.

After getting into the APU bullpen, Christian added a solo homer in the seventh with a majestic shot over the window in the left-center field. The homer appeared to be the icing on the cake but the Cougars showed their resiliency.

Against the stingiest bullpen in the country, the Cougars put the leadoff man on base thanks to a hit batter. After two-were out, an RBI single set up back-to-back home runs which forced another PLNU pitching change.

A single and a homer later, Azusa Pacific had tied the game.

The Sea Lions were able to escape the inning without falling behind but were still in search of the go-ahead run.

Kemp started a two-out rally, drawing a walk. Scott Anderson moved him to third by driving a single into right field setting the stage for Halligan.

The lefty entered the at-bat with a pair of hits already, but softly dropped a fly ball into left field to score Kemp and grab the lead.

Still, the ninth was not without its drama. APU but the first two batters of the inning on before a sacrifice bunt moved the tying run to third and the go-ahead run to second. After an intentional walk loaded the bases, Cole Hillier induced a harmless pop-up to shallow right field where defensive replacement Seth Ryberg made an important catch and just avoided colliding with DuMont in the outfield.

Hillier then induced a fly ball to Alvarez in left to seal the win.

Point Loma moves one win away from a trip to the NCAA Division II National Championships in Cary, North Carolina next week.

Tomorrow's first game begins at 11:00 am, if APU wins the winner-take-all game would be at approximately 2:00 pm at Carroll B. Land Stadium.