SAN MARCOS, Calif. --- The 20th and 21st-ranked teams in the NAIA split a pair of thrilling, one-run games as Biola and Cal State San Marcos each won an end of a non-conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at Mission Hills HS.

The Eagles won the first game by a final of 2-1, but dropped the second game by a 4-3 count. Biola finished the day at 9-8 overall while the Cougars move to 13-11 overall.

Game one was a great pitcher's duel between Biola starter Lyndsie Roberts and CSUSM's Melissa Lerno. Roberts won the duel by allowing just one run despite scattering seven hits, recording five strikeouts. She made just one mistake on the afternoon, surrendering a solo home run to lead off the fourth inning.

Roberts helped herself out, though, driving in both runs Biola scored. The Eagle' pitcher broke the scoreless tie in the top of the fourth as Lauren Gandy led off the inning with a bunt single, stole second and scored on Robert's double to left-center field.

After the Cougars tied the game in the fourth with the solo homer, Biola came back in the sixth to take back the lead. Gandy and Roberts again combined for the go-ahead run. This time it was Gandy who hit the double and Roberts who had the single.

Roberts got in a bit of trouble in the bottom of the sixth as Cal State San Marcos used a two-out single and double to put runners in scoring postition. But Roberts was able to get pinch-hitter Shannon Essig to ground out to second to end the threat.

The sophomore hurler closed out the seventh without much trouble to improve to 5-3 on the season.

In the second game, the Eagles got off to another quick start thanks to another big hit by a Biola pitcher. This time, the honor belonged to Erica Moyer, who blasted a two-run home run to right centerfield to get Biola on the board. 

However, the lead was short-lived as Cal State San Marcos' Ashley Estepa hit a three-run home run to left to give the Cougars back the lead.

Biola tied the game in the top of the third. Gandy slugged a triple to right field and she came around to score on a throwing error by the Cougars. 

The score would remain the same until the bottom of the fourth when the Cougars scored an unearned run on an RBI-single by Lauren Nelson. The run came off new Biola pitcher Kristen Larson, who suffered her second loss of the year despite lowering her ERA to 1.00. 

The Eagles remain on the road for their next game, a GSAC doubleheader against their arch-rival Azusa Pacific University on Tuesday (Mar. 17). First pitch is scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Cougar Softball Field.