(HILO, Hawai'i) No. 7 PLNU Baseball swept Hawai'i Hilo for its sixth sweep in eight PacWest series, as Point Loma extended its lead atop the conference standings to 7.5 games.
On Friday, the Sea Lions set a season-high for runs scored in a 20-2 win before posting a 2-0 shutout victory in game two.
Then on Saturday, Point Loma won 8-7 to clinch the series victory before sealing the sweep with its second shutout of the weekend, 11-0.
In game one, PLNU scored eight runs in the top of the first, then added four in the fourth and sixth innings. The Sea Lions scored in six of the seven innings played, as Point Loma won via run rule for the fifth time this season.
Josiah Rodriguez,
Mason Cook and
Jack Ryan all had three hits apiece, while six Sea Lions had multiple RBIs, led by
Matt Bernath's four.
Derek Silva earned the win on the mound, allowing just a single run in his five innings of work.
Vaughn Neckar then pitched his second seven-inning, one-hit shutout of the season, striking out six batters in a 2-0 game two win. Both of Point Loma's runs came in the fifth via a
Josiah Rodriguez walk and a
Matt Bernath RBI-single.
Point Loma clinched its seventh series victory out of eight to start conference play with a one-run win in game three, aided by a five-run fourth inning. Ryan provided three RBIs, including what proved to be the game-winning run in the seventh.
Tristan Moore then hit for the cycle to close out the sweep, as
Devin Norton threw six shutout innings of one-hit ball to earn the game four win.
Jake Schwartz provided four RBIs.
PLNU's shutout in the series finale is the Sea Lions' eighth of the season.
Point Loma has over a week off before hosting Westmont in Carroll B. Land Stadium, April 17-18. Doubleheaders both days will start at noon.
