COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Senior Lauren Gandy went 6-for-8 and Biola's pitching staff quieted the Vanguard bats as the Eagles opened GSAC play with a sweep of the Lions, winning 4-1 and 3-2 in eight innings on Tuesday afternoon at VU Softball Field.

Biola, ranked No. 24 in the latest NAIA Top 25 released earlier in the day, improve to 21-11 on the season and to 2-0 in conference play. The Eagles are ranked in the Top 25 for the first time since March 2009.

Vanguard falls to 18-12 and to 0-2 in GSAC.

The game was considered a home game for the Eagles despite it being played at Vanguard. The game was moved from La Mirada after rain on Monday rendered Freedom Field unplayable.

Biola did a fantastic job of coming from behind in both games to earn the sweep. In the first game, Vanguard opened the scoring with a run in the top of the first inning. Kari Bergerson opened the game with a triple and scored on a single by Angela St. Croix.

Biola tied the game in the third, rallying with two out. Jillian Storm reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second. The NAIA's leading base stealer moved to third on an infield hit by Gandy and came around to score on a clutch two-out single by the NAIA leader in RBIs, CeCe Luster.

After loading the bases with one out but not scoring in the fourth, Biola broke the game open with a three-run fifth. Chelsea Limm led off with a walk followed by a bunt single by Storm. Gandy then loaded the bases with a bunt single of her own. One out later, Lyndsie Roberts drove home two runs with a single down the left-field line.

The Eagles would cap the scoring as Celina Thornton drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 4-1.

Roberts picked up the win, going four innings, allowing just one run on five hits. Shaylynn Weststeyn came on in relief, earning the save by throwing three shutout innings, striking out four and scattering two hits.

The Lions again opened the scoring, this time in the third inning as Stephanie Leisenring doubled home St. Croix for the game's first run.

Biola tied the game in the fourth, benefitting from a Vanguard error which scored Luster from third.

In the top of the sixth, Vanguard went back on top. Elizabeth Archer drew a walk to start the inning off, stole second and third, then came around to score on an infield ground out.

The Eagles wasted no time getting that run back, though, as Lyndsie Roberts led off the bottom of the inning with a solo home run to center field, her eighth of the season.

With neither team able to score in the seventh, the game went to extra innings. Vanguard was unable to move the tiebreaker runner from second as Luster struckout the first batter, then got a fly out and ground out to end the inning.

Storm was placed on second to start the bottom of the inning and moved to third on Gandy's infield single. After a ground out and an intentional walk loaded the bases, Weststeyn drove home the winning run with an infield single.

Luster recorded the win for the Eagles in relief, giving up one run on one hit over the final four innings while striking out three. Kristin Larson started the game for Biola and also did well, scattering five hits over four innings and giving up one earned run while striking out three.

The extra-inning game was the seventh of the season for the Eagles, matching the record for most in a season. Biola is 3-4 in extra-inning games this year.

The Eagles remain in GSAC play the rest of the season and have a tough test ahead on Saturday, hosting No. 1 California Baptist University at Noon. The Lancers opened GSAC play on Tuesday with a sweep over Azusa Pacific, though by surprisingly low scores of 4-1 in each game.