PLNU softball keeps on rolling. In 2009 the perennial top-five NAIA program ended the year with a No. 4-ranking and a 48-13 overall record. Head coach Dave Williams and associate head coach Cheryl Schaefer oversaw a team that posted a 41-9 regular season mark with included a second-place finish in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

The Sea Lions opened the year with 11 consecutive wins, including two conference triumphs against Biola. That record boosted the team to No. 2 in the NAIA rankings but PLNU’s streak was halted by Madonna (MI) in a 1-0 loss.  The Green and Gold bounced back nicely, though, claiming wins in the next nine contests. Among the victories were sweeps over GSAC rivals Vanguard and Hope International.

Holders of a 20-1 record and a 4-0 mark in conference, the Sea Lions hit the road to face arch-rivals California Baptist in a twinbill. It didn’t go as planned. The Lancers pushed PLNU aside and effectively ended the Green and Gold’s GSAC title aspirations.
 
Despite the setback the Sea Lions went right back to winning. The new streak started off with a pair of wins against NCAA DI North Dakota State. Junior pitcher Tyler Lent dominated in the opener, tossing a no-hitter and striking out 12. Two victories at the Sunwest Tournament were followed by sweeps of GSAC teams Concordia and Azusa Pacific and a pair of wins over Cal State East Bay. PLNU then completed the regular season sweep of Biola but only managed a split at Vanguard.

After dropping Hope International twice, the Sea Lions welcomed Cal Baptist in what would be the final regular season games played at scenic Sunset Cliffs Park. The No. 1-ranked Lancers took the opening game 5-2 but Lent yielded just three hits in a complete-game effort and senior Melissa Gomez belted a homerun in a 2-0 PLNU win.

The Sea Lions wrapped up the regular season on the road, with mixed results. The team completed an earlier game halted due to rain against Cal State San Marcos, winning 5-4, but then only spilt the regularly scheduled doubleheader with the Cougars. PLNU then topped Concordia twice but stumbled in the season finale and were swept by Azusa Pacific.

The GSAC recognized four Sea Lions with an all-conference selection: Melissa Gomez (P/1B), Tyler Lent (P/DH), Jenel Guadagno (OF/SS) and Alex Wilkinson (C). Two PLNU players, Samantha Hall (OF) and Kira Wommer (RP) earned Scholar Athlete honors.

As the second-place team in the GSAC, PLNU played host to three teams at the GSAC Tournament. The Sea Lions easily won both of their tilts over Concordia, 5-1 and 7-1 to advance to the GSAC Tournament Championship Series at California Baptist. The top-seed Lancers won the opening game of the best of three series 12-8, with PLNU taking the second game 5-3, to force a winner-take-all game three. Gomez blasted a pair of round-trippers in the twinbill and went the distance in the circle in nightcap. It was all CBU in game three, however, the Lancers winning 5-0.

As conference tournament runner up, the Sea Lions received an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament held in Decatur, Alabama. Ranked No. 4 in the county, PLNU earned one of the top seeds in the eight pool, 32-team softball national championship.
 
The Sea Lions went 4-2 at nationals, winning all three pool play games (5-0 over Holy Names, 4-0 versus McKendree and 8-1 revenge game against Madonna) before posting a 1-2 mark in the eight-team, double-elimination championship bracket. PLNU started off with an easy 11-3 triumph over Notre Dame (OH), before falling in a pair of one-run heartbreakers, 2-1 to eventual champions California Baptist and 1-0 to Oklahoma City.

Despite the tough losses, the Sea Lions were an excellent team once again and were a hit or pitch away from another deep run at nationals. Gomez (.446, 18 2B, 14 HR, 60 RBI), set university records in homeruns and RBI, notched a 20-4 record in the circle and earned a first-team All-American selection. Lent went 23-7 with a 1.18 ERA,  hit .396 at the plate and was a second-team pick. Both Gomez and Lent were named on the NAIA All-Tournament team. Hall and Wommer each earned NAIA Scholar Athlete honors as well.

The Sea Lions received contributions from the entire roster. Guadagno (.349, 50 R, 10 2B, 37 RBI, 21 SB) and Wilkinson (.276, 3 HR, 21 RBI) earned their all-conference nods but many others had excellent campaigns including first baseman Tracy Dean (.352, 7 HR, 42 RBI), catcher/DH Taran Lent (.382, 5 HR, 25 RBI), third baseman Jill Schaefer (.318, 5 HR, 21 RBI), second baseman Kayla Luttmers (.283, 56 R, 21 RBI, 28 SB), shortstop Jessica Tieszen (.275, 25 R, 3 HR, 25 RBI) and outfielder Hall (.244, 31 R, 16 RBI, 12 SB).
 
Backups Cassie Monnahan, (.321), Jessica Amador (.310, 7 SB), Trisha Sappington (.269) and Tina Keys (.255) each added important contributions. Lent and Gomez saw the majority of time in the circle but Wommer (4-2, 0.78 ERA, 1 save), Monnahan (0.00 ERA, 1 save) and Katie Nagler (1-0, 4.67 ERA) all filled in nicely when called upon.

Note: At season’s end, PLNU coach Dave Williams left to take over the Cal State San Marcos softball program. In the 12 seasons Williams directed the program, his teams compiled a .759 winning percentage (534-170), amassing seven 40-win seasons and three 50-win seasons.

Taking over the Sea Lions is former All-American player and longtime assistant Cheryl Schaefer, who served as associate head coach for the last two seasons. During her six years with the team, the Sea Lions have compiled a 271-86 overall record (.759 winning percentage) and qualified for the NAIA National Championship Tournament each season.