May 18, 2009

DECATUR, Ala. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) University scored early and never looked back in route to an 11-3 victory over Notre Dame (Ohio) College in round one of bracket play in the 29^th Annual NAIA Softball National Championships. 

Point Loma Nazarene (48-11) scored two runs in the first and four more in the second with the help of a three-run homer from Kayla Luttmers.  Point Loma went on to score in five of the seven innings, capped off with three runs in the seventh.  Three Point Loma Nazarene pitchers help keep Notre Dame at bay, with starter Tyler Lent (23-6) earning the win with four innings of work, allowing one unearned run on five hits.

Notre Dame got two RBI's from Mallory Harder in the game, while Anna Ball and Michelle Dykes each added two hits.  Tara Meyer (19-4) took the loss, giving up six runs, only two earned, on four hits in 1.2 innings of work.

Point Loma Nazarene moves on to play conference foe California Baptist at 1:30 p.m.  Notre Dame drops to the loser's bracket for a meeting with Martin Methodist at 1:30 p.m.

-NAIA-