(SEASIDE, Calif.)
Jakob Christian became the new PLNU Baseball home run king after hitting one of Point Loma's three home runs in its first game of the NCAA West Regional on Thursday.
But the fourth-seeded Sea Lions now face elimination after a late comeback from fifth-seeded Cal Poly Pomona earned the Broncos a 5-4 win in game one.
The Sea Lions turn around to play top-seeded and tournament host Cal State Monterey Bay at 2 p.m. in a must-win game.
Point Loma starter
Dylan Miller was in line for the win after pitching seven innings of two-run ball while striking out eight batters.
CPP took an early lead with a solo shot in the top of the first, before
Jakob Christian answered back in the bottom of the third with a solo home run of his own.
That homer moved the Sea Lions' first baseman atop the all-time program record books for career home runs, while tying the single season PacWest Conference record.
After the Broncos added a second run in the top of the fourth,
Jack Malone's two-run blast in the bottom half gave Point Loma its first lead of the game, 3-2, which the Sea Lions held until the fifth seed tied it up with a run in the top of the eighth.
CPP then regained its advantage in the top of the ninth with a pair of runs on softly-hit RBI-singles.
PLNU got one back on
Scott Anderson's solo shot in the bottom of the ninth, but the Broncos held on to win game one of the regional.
Point Loma (36-15 overall) swept game two opponent CSUMB in a three-game series earlier this season.
