GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
MIRA LOMA, Calif. --- Despite falling in the opener to No. 1 Cal Baptist, Biola came back to stave off elimination with an 8-4 win over No. 3 seed Vanguard University in the nightcap on Tuesday afternoon at the NAIA Region II softball tournament at Big League Dreams Sports Park in Mira Loma.
The Eagles (32-16) dropped the opening game of the tournament 3-1 to the tournament and the country's No. 1 team, Cal Baptist.
In game two, Vanguard scored an early run in the top of the first. But Biola sent 12 batters to the plate and scored seven runs in the bottom of the second to take control of the game.
The Eagles opened the frame with four consecutive singles with Morgan Facchini and Holly Jackson capping the stretch with RBI-singles. After a double play, the Eagles received back-to-back walks, the again struck with four straight singles with Jacqie Hudson and Keena Levert driving in a run each and Krista Johnson capping the scoring with a two-RBI single.
Vanguard scored two more in the fourth to make it 7-3 as pinch-hitter Heather Durham drove in two with a double. The Lions would add another on a sacrifice fly in the fifth.
Biola then added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth as Johnson added another RBI to plate Brittany Bury, who led the inning off with a single.
Johnson finished the game going 3-for-4 with three RBI and a run scored to pace Biola's offense. Keena Levert and Kacie Lyding went 2-for-4, each scoring a run.
Katie Gustaveson picked up win to improve to 16-10 on the season.
The Eagles jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the first game of the day, but it was not enough to overcome the top-ranked Lancers. Cal Baptist scored three in the bottom of the second to retake the lead and held on for the victory.
Biola will play in another elimination game on Wednesday (May 9), taking on Point Loma Nazarene, which also lost to Cal Baptist (9-5) and beat Vanguard (8-1). The Eagles and Sea Lions played four very close games this season with PLNU taking three of the four. The winner will face Cal Baptist needing to beat the Lancers twice to win the Regional Title.
