By Beth Renkoski

03/11/09

No. 3 Sea Lions Win Slugfest over Vanguard

San Diego, Calif. - Visiting Vanguard University and host Point Loma Nazarene combined for eight home runs today at the Carroll B. Land Baseball Stadium in San Diego. Although the home run count was even at four each, the NAIA third-ranked Sea Lions out-hit the Lions 18-8 en route to a 12-5 GSAC baseball victory this afternoon.

The Lions got off to a strong start with Jacob Wood and Jason Schaniel blasting solo bombs to right field, giving Vanguard and VU's starting pitcher, Rich Jessup, a 2-0 lead.

PLNU cut the lead in half when Wes Kartch walked with one out in the bottom of the first inning, and later scored on a two-out double by Travis McCleary.

The Lions responded a few innings later as Nick Akins homered with two outs and no one aboard in the top of the fourth to push VU's lead to 3-1.

However, the Sea Lions came right back with a leadoff single off to start the bottom of the fourth. Jessup (0-3) retired the next two batters, but Drew Bernhard singled before Downing cleared the right-center wall to put a three-spot on the scoreboard for Loma. Chris Carls relieved Jessup and escaped the inning without further damage, but the Lions played catch-up the rest of the way.

Trailing 5-3, the Lions picked up a run in the sixth when Schaniel doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Brett Siegmund. Unfortunately, PLNU countered with a run in the bottom of the sixth to regain the two-run advantage.

Vanguard's final run came on the second solo shot of the day by Akins, but PLNU reliever Brandon Dixon, who recorded the win, struck out the side to smother the Lion offense.

PLNU mounted a four-run seventh inning off Carls and VU's sophomore reliever Jordan Wishmeyer, and tacked on two more in the eighth for insurance.

PLNU's Dixon pitched four innings in relief and Chris Honer mopped up for the Sea Lions in the ninth. Point Loma improves to 16-4 overall and 11-2 with the 12-5 victory.

Schaniel tallied four hits, two runs, and an RBI for the Lions while Akins supplied two runs and two RBIs with his solo dingers, his second and third home runs of the year.

The Lions (5-11, 3-9) are back in action at home tomorrow when they face Trinity International in a nonconference game, beginning at 2:30 p.m.

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