GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Though it wasn't easy, the Biola University softball team picked up a pair of wins over NCAA Division II Cal State San Bernardino on Tuesday afternoon, winning a 2-1 thriller in 10 innings and holding on for a 3-1 win in a five-inning nightcap at Freedom Field in La Mirada.
The Eagles snap a two-game losing streak and improve to 8-2 on the year while the Coyotes drop to 10-8 overall.
Biola senior pitcher Katie Gustaveson went the distance in game one, allowing just one unearned run on four hits over 10 innings. Gustaveson started strong, not surrendering a hit until the sixth inning and keeping the Eagles in the scoreless game.
After both teams failed to scored with the international tie-breaker rule in effect in the eighth and ninth innings, Cal State San Bernardino finally broke through in the 10th as catcher Crystal Fraijo doubled to right centerfield, scoring Leslie Carrasco.
The Coyotes nearly broke the game open as Nicole Camarena followed with a single to left, but they would strand the runners at second and third as Gustaveson struck out Krista Hernandez to end the threat.
In the bottom of the game, Biola got a break as Krista Johnson's infield popup fell untouched as the wind carried it away from the charging shortstop. With one out and runners at the corners, second baseman Lindsay Nuckolls singled to left field to plate Sarah Jensen and tie the game.
On the next pitch, Morgan Facchini loaded the bases as she reached on catcher's interference. Holly Jackson then battled CSUSB reliever Tawni Baker through a 14-pitch at bat, fouling off nine straight pitches before drawing a walk to force home the winning run.
The Eagles had numerous chances early in the game, with their best chance coming in the sixth inning as Nuckols opened the inning with a triple but Biola was unable to score her.
After the two-and-a-half hour first game, there was only enough daylight for the two teams to play five innings in game two.
Biola struck first with three runs on five hits in the bottom of the third inning. With the bases loaded and one out, Johnson singled through the left side to score Erin DaSilva for the game's first run. Brittany Bury then doubled home another run followed by an RBI-single by Kacie Lyding to make it 3-0. The Eagles may have scored more runs in the inning, but had two players thrown out on the basepaths.
In the top of the fifth, the Coyotes staged a bit of a comeback as the sun sank in the sky, scoring a run on an RBI-single by Jamie Lowe. However, that would be all they would get as Hernandez would bounce back to the pitcher to end the game.
Tatiana Garcia picked up the win in her first start of the year, allowing one earned on six hits over 4-2/3 innings pitched. Emily Gray picked up the save in relief, recording the final out after surrending the RBI-single.
Krista Johnson was 3-for-7 on the day with an RBI and two runs scored to lead the Biola offense.
The Eagles open Golden State Athletic Conference play on Saturday (Mar. 3) as they travel to Vanguard University for a doubleheader set to start at Noon.
