(SAN DIEGO)
Jake Entrekin tied a single-game PLNU Baseball record with 8 RBIs to power top-seeded Point Loma to a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals with a 12-4 victory over Cal Poly Pomona.
Entrekin hit two homers on the day, a three-run shot in the first that gave Point Loma an early lead and a grand slam in a six-run fourth that broke the game open.
Ray Cebulski dominated on the mound to earn the win, pitching 6.1 innings and giving up two runs (one earned) while striking out five.
The Sea Lions scored three first-inning runs against the Broncos for the second-straight day, with
Eric Smelko (single) and
Esai Santos (walk) once again getting on base to start the game.
Then with one out, cleanup hitter Entrekin launched a no-doubter beyond the left field fence to put PLNU in front.
The visitors got one back in the top of the third before Cebulski stranded the bases loaded with a flyout to right to preserve Point Loma's two-run lead.
Point Loma then put up a six-spot in the bottom of the fourth, beginning with
Tommy Molina's sacrifice fly to center and Smelko's RBI-single up the middle.
Entrekin then riled up the crowd with another home run, his third of the regional, clearing the bases to put the Sea Lions up 9-1.
Hunter Otjen came on in relief of Cebulski and promptly got a flyout to Santos in right, who then ended the inning with a dart to third to get out a runner tagging from second.
Bryson Hashimoto left the yard with a two-run shot in the seventh before Entrekin tied the program record for RBIs in a single game with a sacrifice fly in the eighth.
Point Loma (43-10-1 overall) now advances to the NCAA Super Regionals for the second time in program history, and second time in three years, with the Sea Lions hosting as the No. 1 seed in the West Region.
PLNU will take on either second-seeded Cal State Monterey Bay or sixth-seeded San Francisco State.
The Super Regional will begin on Friday with a single game at 12 p.m. and conclude on Saturday with the first game scheduled for 11 a.m. and an if-necessary contest to follow if needed.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
