Three in a Row:  Baseball Bests Point Loma to Extend Win Streak 
3/25/08

Box Score

One day after a hard fought win against San Diego Christian in front of the home crowd, Cougar baseball went on the road and earned another one against Point Loma by a score of 6-4.

Tuesday also marked the second straight comeback for the Cougars, who were down 2-0 entering the sixth inning, but scored five runs in that frame and held on for the win.

Johnny Holtman gave CSUSM a very nice effort on the mound.  Holtman has proven himself a solid starter as of late, and on Wednesday he threw 5.1 innings of 3-run ball.  Control was the key for Holtman, who did not walk a single hitter and struck out six.  

While Holtman did the heavy lifting, reliever David Julio keyed the victory for the second straight day.  Entering the game in the eighth to protect a 2-run lead, Julio retired all six hitters he faced, striking out four of them.  He has now thrown four consecutive perfect innings.

Point Loma broke a scoreless tie in the fourth inning, with Andy Reilly hitting a solo home run.  The following inning, they turned a leadoff double into a run to make it 2-0.

But the top of the sixth proved to be the game's pivotal frame.  Defensive wizard Johnny Omahen drilled a one-out home run to get CSUSM on the board.  Louie Russo then singled, reached second on a passed ball, and came around to score on an Austin Way base hit.  Tristan Gale was then hit by a pitch, and Terry Moritz drove in Way with a base hit.  Moritz and Gale stole second and third (respectively), and Dane Ponciano delivered the big two-RBI single, making it 5-2.

Point Loma got one back the following inning, and another one off reliever Eric Julienne.  Julienne was able to escape a potentially dangerous situation in the seventh though, and keep the game at 5-4.

Gale provided an insurance run by himself in the eighth, walking with two outs, then stealing second, stealing third, and coming around to score on a wild pitch.

That run proved ultimately unnecessary, however, thanks to Julio's brilliance.  The 13-14-1 Cougars will get a few days off before taking on Bethany this Friday and Saturday at San Marcos High at 11:00 AM.