LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola cruised to a win in the first game and pulled out a thrilling extra-inning win on an RBI-single by
Leslie Larson to sweep a non-conference doubleheader from Northwest Christian University (Ore.) by scores of 7-2 and 3-2 on Saturday at Freedom Field.
The Eagles pick up their fifth-straight win and level their record at 6-6 on the season. Three of those wins have come against the Beacons, who fall to 2-12 overall.
Biola got off to a quick start in the first game, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Chelsea Limm led of the frame with a single to short, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and came around to score on a double by CeCe Luster. After a walk to Natalie Parker and a wild pitch, Vanessa Coleman drove home a pair with a double to right to make it 3-0.
The Eagles added three more runs in the fourth, taking advantage of a pair of Northwest Christian errors with Luster driving home a pair with a single down the left-field line.
Biola would cap its scoring in the sixth inning as Luster doubled to right and scored on an error.
The Beacons would tally two in the top of the seventh inning on a double by Laynee Bevans to lose the gap a bit.
Freshman hurler Sarah Enriquez went 6-2/3 innings, scattering just four hits and striking out four, closing out her start with the final two outs in the seventh.
In the second game, Northwest Christian took the early lead with a run in the first. After a leadoff walk and ground out, Gabby Stover doubled off the centerfield fence to take the early 1-0 lead.
The Beacons added another run on fourth on a pair of doubles with Amanda Reiss hitting the second to pick up the RBI and make it 2-0.
But the Eagles rallied late, tying the game with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth. Brooke Madrid and Luster each singled to open the inning and moved up 60 feet after a wild pitch. However, two outs later, the pair was still in scoring position. But Natalie Parker came through in the clutch with a two-out, two-run single to right center to plate the pair and tie the game.
Enriquez came into the game in the top of the seventh after NW Christian put two on with one out in the top of the seventh. After a walk loaded the bases, she was able to get a strikeout and fly out to end the threat.
After Biola failed to score in the seventh, the teams headed to extra innings and the international tiebreaker. The Beacons successfully moved the tiebreaker runner from second to third with one out, but again Enriquez worked out of trouble, getting an infield popup and a ground out to end the threat.
In the bottom of the eighth, CeCe Luster re-entered the game and Northwest Christian was looking to intentionally walk her to start. But the 1-0 pitch was left too far out over the plate and Luster smashed it toward third. Megan Mazanec made a fantastic catch and doubled off the runner at second.
The Beacons again moved the runner to third in their half of the ninth. After a pop out, the Beacons were robbed of the go-ahead run on a crazy play. A hard hit ball to short bounced off the Eagles' shortstop and was headed toward left when it ricocheted off the field umpire and bounced right back to Sarah Stromwall at short, who threw out the runner at first to end the inning.
Biola then won it in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-single by Leslie Larson after a great sacrifice bunt by Parker.
Luster picked up the win in the second game, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out three. Enriquez pitched a solid 1-2/3 innings between Luster's innings, allowing just one baserunner and striking out one.
Luster was 5-for-8 on the day with three RBIs and three runs scored. Madrid and Parker each had two hits in the second game while Limm, Coleman and Ashley Spadt each had two in game one.
Biola returns to action on Thursday, March 1, hosting Bethel University (Indiana) at 1:00 p.m.
