05-25-09 (box score)

Kuehl, Steinhauer help Point Loma defeat Oklahoma City 8-3

Sea Lions remain one of two undefeated teams and are guaranteed at least fourth place at Series

LEWISTON, Idaho – Tyler Kuehl went 3-for-4 with three RBI and center fielder Kurt Steinhauer made a couple of late-inning highlight catches to help No. 3 seed Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) defeat No. 2 seed Oklahoma City 8-3 in the winner’s bracket at the 53^rd annual Avista NAIA World Series at Harris Field on Monday. 

Kuehl hit a two-run home run in the second inning to give Point Loma a 3-0 lead and then added an RBI double in the fifth to keep the Sea Lions (43-11) undefeated in the 10-team double-elimination tourney. 

Oklahoma City (52-9) made things interesting in the late innings when it loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth. Landon Camp then launched a high fly ball to center field that appeared to be a grand slam, but Steinhauer made a leaping catch against the wall for the final out. 

Steinhauer added a diving catch in the ninth inning as the Sea Lions hung on for the win. 

The Sea Lions got rolling early when Mike Miles hit the sixth pitch of the game for a solo home run, his second of the season. 

After Kuehl’s sixth homer of the season made it 3-0, OCU tied the game with a run in the fourth and two in the fifth. Jason Machado had an RBI single in the fourth, while Brent Weaver’s RBI single and an error made it a 3-3 ballgame in the fifth, OCU left the bases loaded in the fourth and two on in the fifth. 

Point Loma took the lead in the top of the sixth with three runs. Wes Kartch, who had three hits and scored three times, put the Sea Lions ahead with an RBI double and scored on a double by Kuehl. The final run came in on a throwing error. 

Point Loma’s final two runs came in the eighth when pinch-hitter Ian McMasters hit a solo home run, his second of the season, and Tim Winslow added an RBI single. 

Sea Lion starting pitcher Chris Honer (6-0) went eight innings and allowed seven hits and three runs, only one of which was earned. He struck out six and walked three. 

Garrett Parker (8-1) went 7.1 innings for the Stars and allowed nine hits and seven runs, six of which were earned. He struck out five and walked one. 

Because the bracket would have had Berry and Southern Poly playing for the second time in the tournament, Tuesday’s pairings were adjusted. Oklahoma City now meets Southern Poly in loser-out play at 3 p.m., while Point Loma and Lubbock Christian square off at 7 p.m.