LEWISTON, Idaho - No. 9 Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) (40-19-1) won for the first time in six meetings this season and eliminated No. 3 California Baptist by a score of 7-6 in the 10th game of the 54th annual Avista-NAIA World Series this afternoon. Point Loma Nazarene now plays the loser of Oklahoma City and Cumberland (Tenn.) game at either 11 a.m. or 3 p.m. PDT tomorrow. With its second loss of the World Series, California Baptist ends its season at 49-15 in its second all-time trip.

How sweet was the win for coach Joe Schaefer and his Sea Lions for the first time this season against Cal Baptist?

"I told the guys to forget about the other meetings with Cal Baptist this season," said Schaefer. "I felt that whoever won this one, wins the battle. They hit the ball hard (in the ninth inning) but we had guys in the right spot. Cal Baptist is a very good team and did some things in the conference that no team has ever done before. We are just excited to move on."

After California Baptist grabbed a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning, Point Loma's bats came alive.  The Sea Lions scored five straight runs in the sixth through eighth innings.

In the sixth inning with one runner on, Rashad Taylor drove an 0-1 pitch over the centerfield wall to give Point Loma Nazarene a 4-3 lead.  Tyler Kuehl and Jeff Fox hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh frame for the big blow. Alex Cameron scored on Kuehl's two-bagger and one batter later, Kuehl scored.

Leading 6-3 in the eighth inning, Point Loma picked up a key and decisive run. Kuehl rapped a two-out single, which scored pinch-runner Ronnie Chester.

California Baptist put together a last-inning comeback attempt. After two singles, the Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year Brian Sharp found the leftfield bleachers for a three-run home run. It was his 11^th of the season and cut the deficit to one run, 7-6.

However, Point Loma reliever Robby Ross retired Sharif Othman on a fly-ball and the Sea Lions escaped.

Both teams scored in the first inning. California Baptist's Zach Hedges produced a run-scoring single in the top-half of the inning. Point Loma Nazarene responded with two in the bottom-half. Back-to-back doubles by Kuehl and Fox tied the game at 1-1. Taylor drove in Fox and handed the Sea Lions an early 2-1 advantage.

Cal Baptist wasted no time tying the score. Drew Madrigal tied the game at 2-2 scoring on a ground-out in the top of the second inning. He reached on a lead-off double.

Steven Winnick, the Sea Lions outstanding utility player, improved to 10-3 on the year. He started and went 6.0 innings giving up three runs on six hits. He fanned one batter and walked three. Ross got credit for the save tossing three innings, giving up the three-run homer to Sharp.

Mike Barro, the second of six California Baptist pitchers, suffered the loss going 5 1/3 innings. He allowed four runs on five hits. He struck out one and did not walk any.

Kuehl went 4-for-5 to lead the Sea Lions offensively. He drove in two and scored twice. Fox also went 3-for-5 and drove in two.

Zach Hedges was the top offensive player for Cal Baptist posting three hits and one RBI. Sharp and Matt Johnson each had two hits apiece.

GAME NOTES: In the five previous meetings during the regular season, California Baptist out-scored the Sea Lions 55-18... Point Loma Nazarene improves to 12-9 in World Series action... The Lancers fall to 3-4 all-time in the World Series...  Steven Winnick, the winning pitcher in today's game, is batting a team-best .360 on the season... There were four hits-batsmen in the game.