(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) No. 1 seed PLNU Baseball scored 12 runs in the sixth inning as Point Loma steamrolled No. 3 seed Fresno Pacific by a score of 18-4 in the PacWest Tournament to advance to Friday's championship round.
Tristan Moore and
Jack Ryan both homered twice for the conference regular season champions, who set PacWest Tournament records for most hits in a game (22) and runs in a single inning (12).
After FPU led 3-0, Moore got Point Loma on the board with a solo shot to lead off the top of the fifth before Ryan then opened the 12-run sixth with a homer of his own.
PLNU proceeded to score 11 runs with two outs, sparked by Moore's run-scoring base hit through the right side that tied the game.
Josiah Rodriguez then gave the Sea Lions their first lead a batter later with an RBI-double in the right center gap, before Ryan and Moore both hit grand slams.
Point Loma batted 15 times and had eight hits in the inning, scoring double-digit runs in a single inning for the fourth time this season. The Sea Lions' 12 runs are there most in a single inning since also scoring 12 in the third inning of an April 15, 2022 matchup against Biola.
The scoring didn't stop there, however, as PLNU scored five more in the seventh.
Jake Schwartz's fourth hit of the day was an RBI-single, followed by an
Owen May sacrifice fly and a three-run homer from
Matt Bernath.
PacWest Pitcher of the Year
Derek Silva earned the win after his six innings of work, allowing three runs (two earned) and striking out five.
Point Loma (43-10 overall) will now play No. 2 seed Concordia in the PacWest Championship Round on Friday at 11 a.m., with PLNU needing just one win across a possible two games to lift the PacWest Tournament trophy for the second time in three seasons.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
