May 18, 2007

Point Loma Nazarene University shuts out Bellevue University 8-0 in 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship

DECATUR, Ala. - Melissa Gomez went 3-for-4 with 3 RBI to lead Point Loma Nazarene University to an 8-0 victory in five innings over Bellevue University at the 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship Friday (May 18) afternoon at Wilson Morgan Park.

The third-ranked Sea Lions improved to 40-10 overall and to 2-0 in Pool D action while the 11^th-ranked Bruins fell to 34-5 and 0-1. Point Loma Nazarene will continue pool-play competition Saturday (May 19) with a 10:30 a.m. contest against Saint Gregory's University. Bellevue will be back in action at 8:30 p.m. in the final game of the day against William Penn University.

Paige Powell led off the game with a double to right-center and scored on Gomez's single up the middle.

The Sea Lions broke the game open with four runs in both the third inning. Gomez connected on a two-run homer to left field in the third to give PLNU a 3-0 lead. Jill Schaefer added an RBI double and Laressa Newman had a run-producing single for the other runs in the inning.

Melissa Gomez (3-2) picked up the win for Point Loma Nazarene while Jen Miller (19-3) took the loss.

Gomes wasn't the only PLNU player with multiple hits. Amanda Addie collected three while Jessica Hibma and Newman tallied two each.