SAN DIEGO, Calif. –Point Loma's Brad Vericker doubled with 2 on and 2 out in the bottom of the 11th inning for his only hit of the game to lift the Crusaders to a 7-6 GSAC win over Azusa Pacific in the opening game of a doubleheader.

The second game was suspended after 6 innings because of darkness with the Cougars leading 7-5. It will be completed April 5 when the Crusaders visit Azusa Pacific for a doubleheader.

Azusa Pacific rallied from a 6-4 deficit with 2 runs in the eighth. It had the potential tying run on second in the ninth but could get him home for the win. Likewise, the Crusaders got the winning run on second in the ninth, but Kelly Strickland struck out Adam McGrew to end the threat and force extra frames.

The Cougars threatened again in the tenth, putting the go-ahead run on second but again couldn't drive it in.

In the eleventh, the Crusaders got a leadoff walk and a Cougar error to put runners at first and second with no outs. Strickland then got the next 2 batters out before Vericker doubled in the winning run.

Freshman catcher Jake Haaker finished 4-for-5 with 4 RBIs and 2 doubles, including a 2-RBI single in the Cougars' 3-run second and an RBI double in the eighth.

Robert Guiles finished 3-for-5 with 2 runs. Billy Gwinn had a pair of hits in his 2 at-bats off the bench.

Andy Alstot started and lasted 6 innings, giving up 5 runs and striking out 5. Strickland pitched valiantly in relief, going 4.2 innings and allowing 2 runs and 4 hits.

With the loss, Azusa Pacific drops to 6-7 overall, 4-3 GSAC. Point Loma improves to 11-4, 5-0.