SAN DIEGO, Calif. – In their first road series of the 2019 season, the University of Colorado Colorado Springs baseball team found themselves in a pitching duel against Point Loma Nazarene University where the Sea Lions outlasted the Mountain Lions with a final score of 2-1 at Carroll B. Land Stadium.

UCCS out-hit Point Loma 4-2 in the ball game as sophomore Jonathan Cowles had a career outing by going the full eight innings for the Mountain Lions, allowing just two runs on two hits and two walks with a career high eight strikeouts. Matt Clarke swung the bat well as he went 2-for-4 on the afternoon, with Tyler Matheny recording UCCS' only RBI of the game.

The second inning proved to be the difference maker for the Sea Lions as their two runs and two hits all came in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff single gave PLNU their first baserunner of the afternoon, and then a walk placed runners on first and second with no outs for Point Loma. Seven-hole hitter John Balliet recorded the second hit for Point Loma and tallied both RBI as he hit a ball to right center for a 2-RBI double. Cowles retired the next three batters to get the Mountain Lion out of the inning as they trailed 2-0.

In the eighth inning, the Mountain Lions' offense started rolling as they chipped away at the Sea Lions' lead by getting a run across. PLNU starting pitcher Zack Knoll exited the seventh inning after giving up no runs, two hits, three walks, and registering five strikeouts. Walker Rumsey gave UCCS some life with a leadoff single to left field against relief pitcher Nicholas Cornelius to put a baserunner on for the Mountain Lions. After a Matt McDermott fly out, Clarke put a ball through the right side for a single that advanced Rumsey to third base, and into scoring position. Recognizing the situation, Tyler Matheny provided a deep sacrifice fly ball to center field that scored Rumsey to make the game 2-1.

With one more opportunity in the top half of the ninth inning, UCCS was able to get the leadoff hitter on for the second consecutive inning as Evan Richards reached first on a walk. John Mallon followed up Richards with a sacrifice bunt that put the tying run into scoring position at second. However, the Mountain Lions were not able to get Richards across as back-to-back strikeouts ended the game with a final score of 2-1.

UCCS will look to bounce back tomorrow afternoon as the Mountain Lions and Sea Lions will wrap up the series with a double-header, game one set for 12 p.m. (MT).