SAN DIEGO – Chris Gonzales threw a complete-game shutout and Scott Stidham blasted a two-run homer as NAIA No. 8-ranked Point Loma Nazarene defeated Biola 3-0 to open GSAC play Wednesday.

“The plan was to get quick outs,” said Gonzales, a junior transfer from Fresno JC.  “I struck out some guys early but I was throwing a lot of pitches.  I knew if I was going deep in the game I'd have to get some ground balls and let my defense do the work.”

The right-hander did just that, though he finished with six strikeouts, Gonzales cruised through eight scoreless innings against the Eagles. Biola threatened in the ninth after back-to-back hits put two on with just one out. But after a visit to the mound from pitching coach John Gunther, Gonzales was able to induce a pair of fly balls to right to end the threat and preserve the shutout.

“I made it interesting,” Gonzales said. “I wanted to throw a complete game and I felt I had gas in the tank still. When I had runners on I took a deep breath, said a little prayer and it worked out.”

The Sea Lions (6-2, 1-0 GSAC) got the only runs they would need in the bottom of the first inning when Stidham laid into a Nick Turner offering and sent the ball over the right field fence at Carroll B. Land Stadium. The lefty's first round-tripper of the year scored Harwick who reached base earlier via a single.

PLNU tacked on an insurance run in the seventh. Edgar Molina singled to start the mini-rally and reached second on a passed ball. A single from Jack Diamond sent Molina to third but the Biola outfielder took his time getting the ball in, allowing Molina to trot home from third.

Gonzales (1-0) did the rest, throwing 102 pitches and yielding just six hits in a game that took just two hours to complete.

“My slider was giving them the most trouble and my fastball was moving,” Gonzales said. “I also threw a change up and that kept them off balance.”

Turner (0-1) was the hard-luck loser for Biola (5-6, 0-1). The Eagle starter went the distance as well, giving up nine hits -- all but two were singles.

The same teams will be back out at PLNU on Thursday as they play the second game of their four-game series starting at 2:00 pm. Then, weather permitting, the series is scheduled to wrap up with a twinbill at La Mirada on Saturday.