05-22-09

Steinhauer and Bovich help Point Loma down Embry-Riddle 10-0  

Steinhauer homers twice and drive in five to back four-hit pitching of Bovich

LEWISTON, Idaho – Kurt Steinhauer hit a pair of home runs and drove in five runs to back the solid pitching of Andrew Bovich to help Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) roll to a 10-0 win over Embry-Riddle University (Fla.) 10-0 in the opening day of the 53^rd annual Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field on Friday. 

The game was stopped in the eighth inning because of the 10-run rule. 

Steinhauer hit a three-run home run in the first inning and added a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth as the Sea Lions cruised to the win. 

Bovich, who improved to 13-0 on the season, fired a four-hitter and struck out three. The senior left-hander also walked four and shut down the Eagles when needed as Embry-Riddle left nine stranded. 

For the Eagles, it was the second straight disastrous start to the Series. In last year’s opener, Embry-Riddle lost 18-0 to Lewis-Clark State, meaning it became the first team in Series history to lose by the 10-run rule in its first game in back-to-back seasons. 

Point Loma (42-11) collected 11 hits in the game and most of the damage was done by its Nos. 2-4 hitters – Mike Miles, Steinhauer and Travis McCleary. Miles finished 1-for-4 with three runs scored, Steinhauer was 2-for-4 with five RBI and three runs scored, while McCleary was 3-for-5 with two RBI and a run scored. In all, they combined for all eight of Point Loma’s RBI, six of the team’s 11 hits and seven runs. 

A walk and a throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt set up Steinhauer’s three-run blast in the first. Two errors help the Sea Lions score another run in the third for a 4-0 lead. 

In the fourth, Drew Bernhard had a one-out single and Miles followed with an RBI triple to right. Steinhauer, a senior outfielder, then smacked a two-run homer to straight away center field for his 18^th blast of the season. That gave Point Loma a 7-0 lead. 

The Sea Lions added a run in the seventh on a solo home run by McCleary, his 11^th of the season. A pair of singles and a throwing error allowed the first run in the eighth inning, while McCleary hit an RBI single with two outs to end the game. 

Pat McCrory had a double for the lone extra-base hit for Embry-Riddle (44-13). 

Point Loma now received a bye into Monday’s play where it will play at 7 p.m. Embry-Riddle falls into the loser’s bracket and will meet the loser of Friday’s later game between Lewis-Clark State and Fresno Pacific at noon on Saturday.