RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Despite a home run from senior Keena Levert to start a rally from an early three-run deficit, Biola was unable to knock-off No. 25 Azusa Pacific, falling 4-3 in the first game of the GSAC Tournament on Tuesday afternoon.

The Eagles wrap up the 2009 campaign with a record of 19-21 overall while the Cougars improve to 27-20 and advance to face top-seed California Baptist in a best-of-three series later in the day.

Fresh off a doubleheader sweep of No. 3 Point Loma Nazarene on Saturday, Azusa Pacific kept the momentum going, pounding out 13 hits in the game. However, some great defense and clutch pitching by Biola held the Cougars to just four runs.

APU got on the board early with a run in each of the first three innings. The Cougars loaded the bases in the first with one out before a sacrifice fly by pitcher Camille Hundley put them on top 1-0. In the second, it was an RBI-single by Erin Halma which gave Azusa Pacific its second run. It could have been worse had right-fielder Jillian Albert not thrown out Erika Navarrete at the plate trying to score on the play. It was the second runner thrown out at the plate in the inning.

In the third, the Cougars received their third run of the game on an RBI-double by Bekah Weisser, her second of the game to that point.

However, Biola did not give up that easily. Levert led off the fourth inning with a long home run, her seventh of the season and 24th of her career. 

In the fifth, the Eagles tied the game with a clutch two-run single off the bat of Sara Smith. Brittany Bury led off the frame with an infield single, followed by a walk to Krista Johnson. After a sacrifice bunt by Jillian Storm advanced the runners 60 feet, Smith drove a single to right field to tie the game.

But Azusa Pacific came right back with a run in the bottom of the frame to take the lead right back as Mickelson led off the inning with a solo home run to left-center. The Cougars would end up putting runners at second and third with just one out in the inning, but Biola starter Lyndsie Roberts struck out back-to-back hitters to keep it a one-run game.

In the seventh, the Eagles mounted one final rally. Bury again led the inning off with an infield single. Two outs later, Smith hit a single to left center field to put runners on the corners. Smith moved into scoring position by stealing second on the first pitch of the next at-bat, putting the go-ahead run just 120 feet away. However, Hundley was able to strikeout Levert to end the threat and the game.

Roberts took the loss and wraps up the season with a 10-8 record. She allowed four runs--three earned--on 11 hits while striking out six over five innings. Hundley picked up win to improve to 14-10, giving up three runs on six hits.

Smith finished the game going 2-for-4 with a pair of RBIs to give her a team-best .390 batting average on the season. Bury also recorded a pair of hits, going 2-for-3 in the game with a run scored.