May 20, 2008

DECATUR, Ala. - Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) advanced in the loser's bracket at the 2008 NAIA Softball National Championship with 2-1 victory over St. Gregory's (Okla.).

Amanda Addie led the Sea Lions' offense going 3-for-4 at the plate while Melissa Gomez started on the mound and pitched seven strong innings for the win.

The Sea Lions manufactured a run in the top of the first inning to take an early 1-0 lead.  Addie reached on an infield single, advanced to second on sacrifice bunt, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a second wild pitch.  St. Gregory's tied the game at one in the fourth when Jessica Munson scored from third on a RBI single by Kayla Jackson.  PLNU's Jill Boeckelman drove in Samantha Hall from second on a single to left to give the Sea Lions a 2-1 lead in the sixth. 

Gomez allowed three-hits, one earned run and struck out three batters in seven innings.

Sharon Bell pitched all seven innings for St. Gregory's and recorded seven strike outs.  She finished the tournament with 70 strikeouts in seven games, two shy of the tournament record (72) set by Ashley Lanz of Simon Fraser (B.C.) in 2005.

Point Loma will take on the winner of Dickinson State (N.D.) versus California Baptist at 5:30 p.m.

St. Gregory's will end its season with 55-15 overall record.