San Diego, Calif. - Point Loma Nazarene has once again fooled the Lions, beating them 9-6, taking a 2-0 lead over Vanguard in the season series. Today's game was because of a postponed contest yesterday, March 31.
The contest was scoreless until the bottom of the third inning when Point Loma chopped up three runs off three hits and three errors by the Lions.
The Lions finally reached the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, posting two runs with a rally started by a double from Jason Dovel and a single from Kyle Hardman. Dovel scored on a bunt from Bryce Arroyo and Hardman crossed home plate off a single from Sean Wilson.
Point Loma added another run to its lead in the bottom of the sixth inning. Rashad Taylor doubled to left field, advancing on a throwing error by the pitcher before scoring on a single from Alec Martinez.
The Sea Lions added five more runs in the seventh and eighth innings, blowing the game open for Point Loma including a three-run homer from Taylor in the seventh.
Down 9-2, the Pride scored four more runs but the game was still well out of reach. Jacob Domingos had a solo shot to right field to open the ninth inning, before Jeremiah Mejia had a three-run blast to right field later in the inning.
The offense for the Blue and Gold was benchmarked by Mejia with two hits, one run, and three RBI. Kyle Hardman contributed two hits and two runs in his four appearances at the plate.
Taylor and Shain Stoner were the leading men for the Sea Lions, racking up three hits, two runs, and three RBI, and two hits, two RBI and one run respectively.
The Lions had ten hits and four errors for the contest. Point Loma managed 14 hits with only one error.
Lions starting pitcher Mike Leal (1-2) lost his second game of the season, allowing nine hits and four runs in 5.2 innings of work. Reliever James McGeary allowed one hit and two runs in his single inning of action. Joseph Vega III allowed three hits and a single run during his 0.1 inning on the mound. Tucker Woods rounded out the Lions' pitching staff for the contest giving up two runs and one hit, walking two batters.
Point Loma starter Kelsen Boyer earns his first win on the season, lasting 5.1 innings surrendering six hits and two runs, while striking out three batters. Chris Gonzales relinquished a single hit in 2.2 innings of pitching. Reliever Craig Oliver allowed four runs and three runs against the four batters his faced. Closer Maurice Wilhelm earns his fifth save of the year, sealing the victory for the Sea Lions.
The loss drops the Lions to an overall record of 13-16, with nine wins and 10 losses in conference play. Vanguard will complete its four-game set against Point Loma tomorrow, April 2, on the campus of Vanguard University. The doubleheader begins at 12:00 p.m.
