May 18, 2007

Point Loma Nazarene University defeats Tiffin University 3-1 in first game of Pool D at 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship

DECATUR, Ala. - Jill Schaeffer drove in two runs as Point Loma Nazarene University defeated Tiffin University 3-1 in pool-play action Friday (May 18) morning at the 2007 NAIA Softball National Championship being played at Wilson Morgan Park.

The No. 4 Sea Lions improved to 39-10 overall and to 1-0 in Pool D action while the No. 20-ranked Dragons fell to 35-10 and to 0-1. Point Loma Nazarene returns to competition at 3:30 p.m. when the host Bellevue University while Tiffin will face St. Gregory's University at 6 p.m.

PLNU took a 1-0 lead in the third on a RBI double by Paige Powell, who went 2-for-3. The Sea Lions pushed across another run in the fourth on Schaeffer's single to left field off Tiffin starter April Nietrzeba (20-5).

Tiffin cut the deficit in half with a run in its half of the fourth off K.C. Robertson (16-4) as they scored an unearned run. Point Loma Nazarene got the run back in the sixth on Schaeffer's single to left.

The Dragons' best opportunity to score came in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Tracy Lehman singled and Stephanie Orr contributed a ground-run double over the right-center field wall. However, Tyler Lent, who notched her second save of the season, got Lauren Williams to fly out to the fence in left field to thwart the scoring threat.