By Tim Peterson
(Azusa) – Azusa Pacific, which beat Point Loma 6-5 Wednesday in the first game of the PacWest Conference Tournament, lost Thursday afternoon to Concordia while Point Loma won its game with Hawaii Pacific to set up the rematch between the two teams Thursday night. Three hours, 45 minutes and 10 innings later it was decided when Point Loma scored three runs in the top of the tenth inning and then held off Azusa Pacific in the bottom of the inning for a 10-7 victory.
The win sent the Sea Lions into the championship round of the PacWest Tournament on Friday while the Cougars were eliminated.
It looked like Azusa Pacific was finished in the bottom of the ninth as Point Loma took a 7-6 lead in the top of the ninth on a two-run double by Joey Nicolai. But with two outs Spencer Rasmussen jumped on a fastball and drilled it for a home run to right field to tie it at 7.
Point Loma immediately responded with three runs in the top of the tenth when after a hit batter, a single and an error, Jack Malone singled to drive in two and Hunter Otjen hit a sacrifice fly to deep centerfield to make it 10-7.
The Cougars got two runners on in the bottom of the tenth, but Point Loma got the last out on a strikeout to end it.
The Sea Lions scored two in the first, one in the second and one in the third inning to take a 4-1 lead. Cameron Lee doubled and scored in the first inning for APU.
In the bottom of the third, down by three, Cade Marshman sent a pitch spiraling over the left field barrier for a home run. Omar Lopez and Danny Yanez both followed with base hits and Will Medina and Rasmussen had RBI singles to tie it at 4.
It stayed that way until the sixth. Otjen and Nicolai walked and Esai Santos’ base knock scored Otjen for a 5-4 Point Loma lead.
APU answered with two in the bottom of the sixth to grab the lead when Jeff Castillo doubled and scored on a ground ball by Mikey Easter. A single by Lopez then plated Easter. Lopez had a big night with four hits, 2 RBIs and a run scored.
The Sea Lions then pulled it out with two runs in the ninth and three in the tenth.
Azusa Pacific used five pitchers on the night. Aiden Langley started and went 5 and one-third innings. Point Loma sent four pitchers out to the mound. Branden Jackel and Ray Cebluski each went three innings.
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