LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Freshman Leslie Larson drove in two with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh inning to tie the game and sophomore Sara Smith hit a walk-off single in the eighth as Biola defeated the University of La Verne 5-4 on Thursday.

The game was the season-opener for the Eagles, who improve to 1-0, while the Leopards fall to 2-3 overall.

Larson's pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh was her first collegiate hit and a capped a three-run Biola rally with two out in the final frame, sending it to extra innings. After La Verne was unable to score in the top of the eighth, a one-out single by Smith plated Keena Lavert with the winning run.

Biola got on the board early in the game as sophomore pitcher Lyndsie Roberts blasted a solo home run to rightfield to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead after the second inning.

The Leopards struggled to get runners on base early, not picking up their first hit until the fifth inning. Lynsey Padilla led off the frame with a bloop single down the leftfield line followed. A Biola error and an infield single loaded the bases with one out for Mandy Brenner, who drove home the first run with a slow roller to second. On the play, Kari Granger beat the throw home and the Leopards tied the game at 1-1.

After an infield out, La Verne blew open the game as Melissa Carlson blew open the game with a bases-clearing triple to the wall in rightfield to give the Leopards a 4-1 lead.

The score would remain that way until the bottom of the seventh inning when the Eagles would rally to tie the score. Roberts led off the frame with a single to right. The next two batters hit into fielder's choice putouts at second, leaving the Eagles down to their final out. Junior Brittany Bury kept the inning going with an infield single and pinch hitter Kristin Larson drew a walk to load the bases.

Leslie Larson then followed with a pinch-hit appearance and the first pitch she saw sailed to the backstop moving up the runners 60 feet. Larson then took a 2-2 pitch and lined it into centerfield to tie the game.

The teams headed into the eighth inning where they would institute the international tiebreaker rule. Mandy Brenner was placed on second base to start the top of the eighth, but the Leopards were unable to capitalize. Diandra Burns' sacrifice bunt attempt was popped up to third and Carlson followed that up with a line shot to second baseman Lauren Gandy, who doubled up Brenner at second.

In the bottom of the eighth, Levert started out the inning at second base and was sacrificed to third by Krista Johnson. Smith then stepped up and drove a single past the second baseman and into right field to win the game for the Eagles.

Roberts not only provided a bulk of the offense for the Eagles, but pitched a strong game as well. The sophomore scatted three hits and allowed no earned runs in the contest, to pick up her first win of the year. She also added a pair of strikeouts.

The Eagles take the weekend off and return to action on Tuesday (Feb. 17), hosting Simpson University in a non-conference doubleheader at Freedom Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.