
PLNU baseball squad still searching for first win of the season The Point Loma Nazarene University baseball team dropped a doubleheader to Cal State Monterey Bay on Feb. 2 by scores of 6-1 and 8-5. The Sea Lions (0-3) are still searching for their first win of the season while the Otters improved to 3-0 to open the year. In game one, Bryan Burkhead reached base in three of four at-bats for the Sea Lions, including a hit and their only run of game. Justin Lawrence took the loss for PLNU after giving up four hits and five runs (three earned) in six innings while striking out seven. In game two, the Sea Lions never led in the game but fought back from multiple deficits to tie the game on two occasions. They were down 3-0 heading into the fourth when they rallied for three runs to tie the game. Burkhead scored on a wild pitch, then Joseph Keller doubled in Trey Hunt and Kyle Desimone singled in Keller to tie the game at 3-3. However, as would be the story of the game, the shutdown inning would elude the Sea Lions as Garcia took the first pitch of the at-bat over the left field wall for a two-out, solo home run. PLNU would answer again in their half of the fifth on doubles by Zach Allen and Burkhead. Burkhead finished the game 3-for-4 with three doubles, a run scored and two RBI. Allen and Keller added two hits apiece. Allen also scored two runs. Mickey Dunleavy took the loss for PLNU. The Sea Lions were scheduled to take on local rival San Diego Christian on a single nine inning game on Wednesday, Feb. 6. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL Callie Rhoads scored a season-high 22 points to help the Point Loma women’s basketball team comeback late and edge Notre Dame de Namur, 60-57, on Feb. 4. Rhoads’ trey with just over three minutes remaining gave PLNU (9-10, 5-6 PacWest) a two-point lead, its first since early in the half and PLNU would never again trail. NDNU (3-17, 2-10 PacWest) would answer with a basket to tie the game but Jessica Escorza would then seal the win for the Sea Lions by hitting a driving layup and knocking down two free throws in the final minute. That go-ahead trey was one of five 3-pointers Rhoads knocked down in the contest en route to recording her season-high in points. The Sea Lions also got 11 points and four steals apiece from Escorza and Savannah Erskine. PLNU forced the Argonauts into 20 turnovers, while committing just 11 of their own. The Sea Lions would outscore NDNU 23-8 in points off turnovers. Point Loma trailed 26-25 at the half and by as many as seven with five minutes remaining before outscoring NDNU 13-3 down the stretch to earn the win. The comeback was made possible by PLNU dominating in the paint and on second chance points in the second half. The Sea Lions outscored the Argonauts 18-4 on points in the paint and 6-0 on second chance points during the second period. The Sea Lions will now begin a five-game road trip, with the first four in Hawaii. They will open with Hawaii Pacific on Saturday, Feb. 9 and then face BYU-Hawaii on Monday, Feb. 11.