Point Loma’s Kellen Sheppard reached a variety of accomplishments Monday, the least of which might have been his home run.
Sheppard also shut out UH-Hilo to complete a doubleheader sweep in San Diego, all the while keeping Vulcans slugger Phillip Steering in the park.
Entering the day with four home runs in as many games, the PacWest batting leader mustered one hit. The Vulcans found some offense in a 14-7 loss before being blanked 8-0 as they get set to move up the coast for a four-game set at Cal Baptist.
The hitting standout for UH-Hilo (8-20, 8-18) on this day was Jacob Grijalva, who ripped a three-run double in the first game to stake the Vulcans to three-run lead. UH-Hilo drew eight walks.
UH-Hilo, however, had no pitchers stand out, and the Vuls went through six arms. Freshman Chance Colson started and walked five while allowing three runs in 1 1/3 innings, and Kamalu Kamoku (1-3) ended up with the loss, yielding five runs (four earned) in 3 1/3 innings.
Steering’s hit drove in Jonathan Segovia, who had singled, to bring the Vuls within 8-7 in the sixth, but the Sea Lions (23-13, 15-9), ranked No. 10 in the NCAA Division II West Region poll, went to town against the Vuls bullpen.
Colby Kaneshiro finished 3 for 5 with three RBIs.
Point Loma belted 11 hits in each game, knocking out second-game starter Nicholas Asuncion (six hits, four runs) after two innings.
Sheppard (6-2), an All-PacWest pick last season as a pitcher and a hitter, launched a two-run shot over the right centerfield fence in the first to give himself all the run support he would need. After giving up a hit to Kyle Yamada in the top of the first, he didn’t yield another until Austin Forney singled in the fifth. Sheppard allowed four hits without walking a batter and struck out five.
Steering went 1 for 2 with two walks and was hit in the first game, then he went 0 for 3, dropping his average to .437. Grijalva posted two hits in each game.
