Next Game:
vs. Cal Poly Pomona
5/18/2024 | 11:00 a.m.
May. 18 (Sat) / 11:00 a.m.
vs. Cal Poly Pomona
History
(SAN DIEGO) It took PLNU Baseball until the seventh inning to score in its NCAA West Regional opener on Thursday.
Point Loma wasted no time on Friday.
As the designated visiting team, the first four Sea Lions reached base in a three-run top of the first inning, sparking Point Loma to an 8-3 win over Cal Poly Pomona to move one win away from the Super Regionals.
Eric Smelko singled to lead off the first, followed by a walk from
Esai Santos and a base hit from
Scott Anderson to load the bases.
Jake Entrekin then singled to right center to get PLNU on the board.
Hunter Otjen followed that with a sacrifice fly to score Santos before the Sea Lions tacked on another after a Broncos error.
CPP got one back in the bottom of the first with a leadoff solo shot, but PLNU restored its three-run advantage on Entrekin's solo homer of his own in the top of the fifth.
Then in the bottom half, Point Loma starter
Austyn Coleman jammed his opponent and broke his bat to induce an inning-ending groundout before Point Loma exploded for four runs in the top of the sixth.
Joey Nicolai bunted to score
Jack Malone , who beat the throw and ensuing tag at home. Smelko then made the Broncos pay with a three-run blast to right center to round out PLNU's scoring.
The Broncos scored one run in the sixth and ninth innings but it wasn't enough to overcome another dominant pitching performance from the Sea Lions.
Coleman earned the win, pitching six innings of two-run ball to go along with four strikeouts.
Christian Williams claimed his fourth save of the season, pitching the final three innings in relief, only allowing a single run.
Point Loma (42-10-1 overall) is now one win away from a berth in the NCAA Super Regionals.
PLNU and CPP (32-23) will play again on Saturday at 11 a.m. with an if-necessary game to follow if the Broncos defeat the Sea Lions.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
VIDEO
