LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Despite strong pitching efforts from its talent junior starters, Biola was unable to get a much-needed clutch hit on Tuesday, losing 1-0 and 3-1 in a GSAC doubleheader against No. 11 Concordia on Freedom Field in La Mirada.

Biola drops to 16-12 on the season with the losses and into fourth place in the conference at 6-6 after the first round of GSAC play. Concordia improves to 24-10 overall and to 7-5 in GSAC.

The doubleheader featured a pair of thrilling pitcher's duels with starters on both sides matching zeros throughout much of the games.

In the first game, Biola starter Lyndsie Roberts went up against Concordia's Rachel Reekstin. Roberts allowed just one run on six hits while striking out six, but suffered the loss as Reekstin tossed seven shutout innings, allowing three hits, three walks and recording three strikeouts.

Biola had the first real chance to get on the board and it came in the bottom of the fifth. After Reekstin walked the first two batters of the inning, Morgan Facchini executed a perfect sacrifice bunt to move them into scoring position with just one out. But Biola was unable to push a run across as Reekstin coaxed an infield popout and a groundball out of the next two hitters for Biola to keep the game scoreless.

Concordia would get the only run it needed in the top of the sixth. With one out, Shannon Walton drilled a triple down the left field line, then came in to score on a picture perfect bunt single by Lizette Fernandez.

Biola had another chance to score in the bottom of the inning. After Lauren Gandy was hit by a pitch, Brittany Bury moved her a long with a sacrifice bunt. Sara Smith then singled sharply to center to move Gandy to third. One out later, Roberts drew a walk to load the bases with two down, but Erin DaSilva grounded out sharply to second to end the inning.

Biola would go down in order in the seventh.

In the second game, Kristin Larson would get the start for Biola and pitched well, though her defense let her down a bit.

Biola struck in the first to stake Larson to an early 1-0 advantage. Bury led the frame off with a single to center, then came around to score one out later on a triple by Smith to right-center. But Biola was unable to tack on any more that inning, or the next few innings despite a number of great opportunities.

In the second, DaSilva led off the inning with a double, then was moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. But Biola could not push the run across, instead grounding out twice to end the threat.

In the fifth, Concordia got on the board with a two-spot. Samantha Perez led off the frame with a single and everyone was safe after a Biola error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Alyssa Erickson. After successful sacrifice bunt and a walk to load the bases, it looked like Larson may get out of the inning as Brieana Eckel grounded into a force out at home. But the Concordia pitcher Jennifer Simons drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a single to right center to make it 2-1.

Concordia would add one insurance run in the top of the seventh on an RBI-single by Eckel to cap the scoring.

Biola wound up allowing just four hits to Concordia in game two, but despite six hits of its own, could not outscore the visitors. Bury had three of Biola's hits, going 3-for-4 with a run scored.

Larson took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on three hits while striking out five.

Biola returns to action on Saturday (March 27), heading south to Point Loma to face the Sea Lions. The games will be played at the Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC) Field located just a few miles from the PLNU campus. ALL FANS MUST REGISTER PRIOR TO ARRIVING ON SATURDAY OR THEY MAY NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE GAMES. Visit http://www.pointloma.edu/Athletics/Softball/NMAWC_Field.htm for more information.