The Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) Sea Lions baseball program wrapped up its most successful season to date Friday, finishing second in the nation in the National Athletic Interscholastic Association (NAIA) College World Series with an 11-8 loss to Lubbock Christian University in Lewiston, Idaho. The second-place showing is the highest finish in school history and the highest rung reached by any Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) team since Azusa Pacific University in 1984. “We had a great trip,” said PLNU head baseball coach Joe Schaefer. “A lot of people didn’t expect us to get there. Anytime you make it to the national championship game and you’re one win away and you don’t win, it’s a disappointment.” In the final championship game against Lubbock Christian, the Sea Lions fell behind 5-0 in the first inning but rallied to tie the game the next inning — only to fall behind 8-5 in the third inning. PLNU fought back with two more runs in the fourth inning to cut the deficit to 8-7 but Lubbock got back the two runs in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead 10-7. Both teams scored one more run each, but the championship was not meant to be for Point Loma as the Sea Lions continue to look for their first national championship. “I’ve calmed down since Friday,” said senior pitcher Andrew Bovich. “Emotions were running high a few days ago but we had a good run this year with a bittersweet ending.” Bovich improved tremendously this season after going 6-4 in 2008. He went 13-1 overall this season with a 1.70 ERA — easily the ace of PLNU’s pitching staff. “I played in the summer league at Carolina last year and faced some great hitters from Georgia and North Carolina,” Bovich said. “So when I came back, I was more prepared to face the college hitters.” PLNU began the College World Series with a 10-0 victory over Embry-Riddle University (Fla), followed it with an 8-3 win over Oklahoma City, then grabbed a slim 2-1 win over Lubbock Christian. The Sea Lions then defeated Lee University 8-6 and were poised to win the school’s first national title with Bovich, their undefeated ace on the mound, until Lubbock Christian crashed the party with a 5-1 win over Point Loma. Bovich pitched well enough to go 14-0 but the offense failed to come through that day. This year represented the program’s fourth overall College World Series appearance. The first two appearances were under legendary PLNU head coach and former Athletic Director Carroll B. Land in 1993 and 1994. The Sea Lions returned 10 years later under Schaefer. They finished third in 1993 and 2004. The Sea Lions earned numerous awards this season. Bovich and senior outfielder Kurt Steinhauer were named Honorable Mention All-NAIA. Steinhauer hit .379 this season with 19 home runs, 52 RBI and earned a Rawlins Gold Glove award for his defensive efforts. Steinhauer also earned the NAIA Charlie Hustle Award for best effort. The team was honored as the NAIA Buffalo Funds Five-Star Champion of Character award. The team that wins the award exhibits five core character values: respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. “The character award is something I was very proud of,” Schaefer said. “There were a lot of good teams in the tournament and for us to win it meant a lot to me.” Bovich will graduate this fall but said he will remember his years at PLNU fondly. “Overall, I loved it,” Bovich said. “I bounced around different colleges for two or three years before I came here. When I came here I was accepted by the school and education-wise it is a fine school. It was great experience.” Now that the younger players have tasted success and almost experienced the feeling of being national champions, Schaefer said he is optimistic about his team’s chances next year. “I expect us to be just as talented next year as we were this year,” Schaefer said. “This year, the chemistry with those 26 guys was incredible. Next year, it’s a matter of how they gel as a team.”