The Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) Sea Lions won the inaugural Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) tournament last week at Carroll B. Land Stadium and entered the opening round of the National Athletic Interscholastic Association (NAIA) playoffs Tuesday in Azusa as the No. 3 seed. “Everyone is healthy and we are swinging the bat pretty well,” said PLNU head baseball coach Joe Schaeffer. The other teams in the bracket are GSAC rivals Azusa Pacific University and Biola University, along with nonconference opponents British Columbia University and Purdue North Central University. The Sea Lions defeated Azusa 8-1 Tuesday in the opening round of the double-elimination NAIA Tournament, continuing to set their sights high. Going into the nationals, Schaeffer was optimistic about his team’s chances of advancing. “I feel pretty confident about the nationals,” Schaeffer said. “There are nine five-team tournaments in the nationals and we are probably in the toughest of all of them.” Schaeffer also noted that despite the overall success of the team this season, the opening round would not be easy. “It is going to be a battle but if we can come out on the winning end then it will prepare us for what we face next,” he said. The Sea Lions opened the GSAC Tournament on May 5 with a 4-0 victory over The Master’s College, followed by a 3-2 extra-inning win over Fresno Pacific on May 6 before going on to ultimately defeat Master’s College again 6-1 in the tournament final to lay claim to the title. In the opening game, senior hurler Andrew Bovich continued his masterful season, improving his overall record to 11-0. Bovich retired 14 consecutive batters at one point and gave up only two hits over eight innings pitched and was named the GSAC Pitcher of the Year. Against Fresno Pacific, sophomore shortstop Tyler Kuehl came through with a clutch two-out hit in the 12th inning for the game-winning run. Senior pitcher Chris Honer struck out six batters and allowed three hits in seven innings of work. In the third and deciding game of the tournament, the Sea Lions had dominant pitching behind junior Brandon Dixon’s seven-inning performance. Dixon scattered six hits, allowed one run and struck out five. The PLNU offense sealed the win with a five-run seventh inning to break open a close game. Throughout the year, Schaeffer and the players have been focused on the ultimate goal of winning the national title. Schaeffer acknowledged that the Sea Lions were focused as they entered the opening round. “It is great to know how close they [the players] are,” Schaeffer said. “They know the College World Series is only one step away.”