(SAN DIEGO) The even-year magic continues.
PLNU Baseball claimed its third West Regional championship in five years with a 6-3 victory over Northwest Nazarene to advance to the NCAA Division II World Series in Cary, N.C. once again.
Point Loma added to its 2022 and 2024 regional titles to establish itself as the perennial powerhouse on the West Coast, winning the first two games of a Best-of-3 West Super Regional matchup between the last two regional champions.
Aiden Arriaga homered in the top of the second to tie the game before
Mason Cook did the same with his solo shot in the eighth.
Tristan Moore then gave the Sea Lions their first lead of the day with a two-out, two-RBI double later in the eighth.
NNU got one back in the bottom half, but
Hank Smith induced an inning-ending double play to keep PLNU in front by one.
Jack Ryan then extended Point Loma's advantage with his second homer of the Super Regionals, this time a two-out, two-run homer to center in the top of the ninth.
Smith then sealed the Sea Lions' spot in Cary with a scoreless bottom half, earning his second save of the Super Regionals.
Starting pitcher
Devin Norton earned the win with his stellar seven innings of work, striking out nine batters and only allowing three hits.
Point Loma (49-11 overall) now advances to the NCAA Division II World Series for the third time in five seasons, with the tournament starting on Friday at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.
The eight Super Regional winners will be reseeded ahead of the World Series.
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE
