LA MIRADA, Calif. ---
CeCe Luster went 4-for-6 in the doubleheader and picked up a complete-game victory in the second game as Biola swept past Simpson by scores of 2-0 and 4-3 in a GSAC doubleheader on Tuesday afternoon at Freedom Field.
The Eagles improve to 7-5 with the wins while dropping the Red Hawks to 4-7.
Luster had a solid day at the dish, collecting two hits in each game and finishing with two RBIs and a run scored. In the circle, she had a bit of a shaky start, but finished strong to pick up the win.
Freshman pitcher
Shaylynn Weststeyn got the start in game one and tossed a complete-game shutout to run her record to 4-0 on the season. Weststeyn picked up the win, but had to work out of numerous jams, allowing eight hits over seven innings and two walks. Despite allowing runners to get on, she stranded all of them on the base paths.
Biola scored the first run of game in the third inning as
Jillian Storm benefited from an error to reach base to lead off the frame. After stealing second, she was bunted over to third base by
Lauren Gandy. Luster then followed with a solid single to right to score Storm and give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.
The score would remain that way into the fifth when Biola rallied for another run also with two out. With no one on, Gandy reached base with a single up the middle, stole second, then came raround to score on a single up the middle by Luster.
Weststeyn's toughest inning camei in the top of the fifth as the Red Hawks loaded the bases with two out. She managed to retire the side by coaxing a groundout off the bat of McKenzie Burroughs to end the threat.
In the second game, the Red Hawks got to Luster early, batting around for three runs in the second. But despite the early setback, Luster was solid the rest of the way, allowing just three hits and keeping Biola in the contest long enough to try a comeback.
Biola got two of those runs back in the fourth. With one out and runners at second and third, the bottom of the Eagles line up came through as
Kristin Larson and Natalie Thornton came through with run-scoring singles.
In the fifth, Biola took back the lead with one swing of the bat. After Luster led off the frame with a line drive single to left, Lynsdie Roberts belted the first pitch she saw high over the center field fence to put Biola up 4-3.
From there Luster took over, working out of a small jam in the sixth with a pair of strikeouts, then ending the game with a strikeout. She finished by allowing three runs on eight hits, walking two but recording six strikeouts.
Biola returns to action this weekend at the Patten University tournament in Oakland on Friday and Saturday. The first games are slated for Friday against the University of Great Falls (Mont.) at 1:00 p.m. and Holy Names University (Calif.) at 3:00 p.m.