SAN DIEGO --- Biola battled well against No. 3 Point Loma Nazarene in a GSAC doubleheader on Saturday, but ultimately fell a run shy in each game of the twinbill by scores of 3-2 and 4-3.

The Eagles, ranked No. 20 in the latest NAIA National Poll, drop to 13-14 on the season and to 5-9 in GSAC play. The Sea Lions move to 32-3 overall and stay tied for first in the GSAC with a record of 12-2.

Biola put up an impressive fight against one of the NAIA's best. The first game remained scoreless through the first four innings before Point Loma finally broke the stalemate with a run in the fifth inning as Melissa Gomez singled home Janel Guadagno. 

The Eagles responded quickly, however, with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Jillian Albert led off the frame with an infield single and was sacrificed to second by Sara Smith. Lauren Gandy followed with a ground out, but Albert was able to advance to third and score on a throwing error by the Sea Lions. With two out and nobody on, Krista Johnson hit a double to right center to keep the inning going. Kacie Lyding then reached on an error which allowed Johnson to come all the way around to give the Eagles a lead.

Point Loma answered right back with a run in the bottom of the inning as Jill Schaefer's RBI-double scored Alexandra Wilkinson with the tying run.

After Biola was unable to get the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh, Point Loma came up with one more chance before extra innings. With one out, Tracy Dean walked and reached second on an infield groundout. On the next play, Tyler Lent hit a hot shot to first where the Biola first baseman stepped on the bag and quickly fired to try and double-up the runner heading to second. However, no one was covering the base and the ball rolled all the way to the fence allowing the winning run to come around and score. 

Erica Moyer suffered the tough loss despite not allowing an earned run or a hit in 1-1/3 inning. She falls to 4-4 overall. She was the third Biola pitcher in the game. Kristin Larson got the start, allowing just one hit over the first two innings. In the third, Lyndsie Roberts came on in relief and allowed two runs on five hits over 3-1/3 innings.

In the second game, Biola got off to a slow start offensively, managing just one hit through the first four innings. Meanwhile, the Sea Lions struck for two early runs, scoring once in the second and again in the third. 

In the second inning, Tyler Lent singled up the middle, stole second, and came around to score on a single by her sister, Taylor Lent. In the third, a Biola error prolonged the inning and Tracy Dean made them pay with an RBI-single to make it 2-0.

The Eagles got on the board in a big way in the fifth as Keena Levert led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.

Point Loma picked up a pair of runs that proved to be important insurance runs in the sixth, though both were unearned after a Biola error. The first came around to score on a wild pitch and the second scored on an RBI-single by Samantha Hall.

Biola fought back hard, down to its last three outs in the seventh. Levert drew a walk to open the inning and Moyer reached on an error to put two on with no one out. Roberts then followed with a pinch hit single to center and an error by the centerfield allowed Levert to score. 

The Sea Lions relieved a bit of the pressure by turning a double play on a lineshot to third. Jillian Storm then kept the inning going by drawing a walk which put runners at the corners for Smith, who followed with an RBI-single to right field. With the tying run 60 feet away, Lauren Gandy stepped up and slapped a shot which was snagged by the PLNU first baseman, who ended the game by stepping on first.

Kristin Larson took the loss in the second game, allowing one earned run on five hits over four innings. Moyer pitched the final two innings, giving up three hits and two runs, though none were earned. Just three of the seven runs Biola allowed were earned on the afternoon.

Levert finished the second game going 2-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI. Albert paced the offense in the first game with a 2-for-2 performance, scoring a run. 

The Eagles have played well against teams ranked in the NAIA's Top 25 this year, but have not had the breaks go their way in quite a few of them. In 13 games against Top 25 teams, they are 1-12, though eight of those losses have been by just one run including both of the games today. 

The Eagles return home for a GSAC doubleheader on Tuesday (Mar. 31), hosting Hope International University beginning at 2:00 p.m. on Freedom Field.