(CARY, N.C.) Dylan Miller pitched seven stellar innings to lead No. 4 PLNU Baseball to a 2-1 victory over No. 5 IUP in the first game of the NCAA Division II World Series on Saturday in Cary, North Carolina.
 
Eric Smelko and Esai Santos each had an RBI, which proved to be enough offense for Miller, who struck out seven while only allowing a single run in the eighth inning.
 
Miller threw seven scoreless frames before the first two Crimson Hawks reached base in the top of the eighth, prompting Christian Williams to be summoned from the bullpen.
 
IUP scored once before Williams got a foul out to first and Joey Nicolai fired home to throw out the tying run at the plate on an inning-ending double play.
 

What a play and defensive awareness by @PLNUSeaLions. Bases loaded, one out, 1B Nicolai catches a short pop foul for out one and rifles it home for an inning double play.

Super close play was reviewed and upheld. #D2BSB pic.twitter.com/VhdTzgJbKX

— Wayne Cavadi (@WayneCavadi_D2) June 1, 2024

 
James Sashin then came in to pitch a scoreless ninth, earning his 18th save of the season to set a new program and PacWest Conference single-season record.
 

Sea Lions take Game 1.@PLNUBaseball defeats IUP, 2-1, to win its #D2BSB World Series opener. pic.twitter.com/3sBFklm4W0

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) June 1, 2024

 
Point Loma's offense scored once in both the third and fifth to go ahead 2-0.
 
The Sea Lions struck first when Smelko's RBI-groundout scored Nicolai, who led off the inning with a double to right center before advancing to third on a bobble from the center fielder.
 

Sea Lions strike first 🟢🟡

Eric Smelko's RBI-groundout gives @PLNUBaseball a 1-0 lead over IUP in the bottom of the 3rd.#GoSeaLions pic.twitter.com/J7uIK9HPVl

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) June 1, 2024

 
PLNU then tacked on another in the fifth on Santos' RBI-single through the right side. Tommy Molina led off the inning with a hit by pitch and advanced to second on Nicolai's sacrifice bunt, allowing Santos to double PLNU's advantage.
 

Esai Santos scores Tommy Molina with a single through the right side.@PLNUBaseball leads IUP 2-0 in the bottom of the 5th. pic.twitter.com/uoIVdeomo4

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) June 1, 2024

 
Nicolai and Jake Entrekin collected a pair of hits each.
 

Moving on to Monday!@PLNUBaseball stays in the winner's bracket with a 2-1 victory over IUP in the #D2BSB World Series. pic.twitter.com/6tHFff14iO

— PLNU Sea Lions (@PLNUSeaLions) June 1, 2024

Point Loma (46-11-1 overall) now advances to play eighth-seeded Angelo State, the defending national champions, on Monday.
 
First pitch at the USA Baseball National Training Complex is scheduled for 3 p.m. PDT / 6 p.m. EDT.

POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE