LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola put up an impressive fight against another nationally-ranked team, however the Eagles against suffered a close loss, falling 2-1 and 6-4 to No. 12 Bethel College (Ind.) in a non-conference doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Freedom Field.
The Eagles have their five-game winning streak snapped and fall to 6-8 on the season while the Pilots move to 3-2 overall. Biola falls to 0-4 against nationally-ranked teams, though three of those losses have been by just one run.
CeCe Luster had a solid day at the plate, going 4-for-5 on the day with a double, two walks, a run scored and an RBI. Brooke Madrid added three hits in five at bats and two sacrifices while Ashley Spadt finished 3-for-6 in the twinbill.
In the first game, Bethel got a first-inning run, but Biola answered right back with a run in the bottom of the frame. Chelsea Limm opened the inning with a single to third, moved to second on a bunt and moved to third on a single by Luster. Luster attempted a double-steal and after getting caught in a run down, Limm found enough time to come around and score.
The score would stay tied at one until the top of the third when the Pilots were able to score an unearned run to take the lead right back.
Neither team was able to put many runners on base the rest of the way as the pitching dominated. The Eagles had their best chance in the sixth as Luster doubled down the right-field line with one out. However, Bethel pitcher Natalie Newell was able to get a pair of strikeouts to end the threat.
Sarah Enriquez matched Newell pitch for pitch, going the distance and suffering the tough loss. She allowed just one earned run on five hits over seven innings, striking out four.
In the second game, Biola got the drop on the Pilots, jumping out to a quick lead. In the first inning, Limm single to left and was moved to second by a sacrifice bunt by Madrid. Two batters later, Natalie Parker singled to left to drive home Limm with the go-ahead run.
The Eagles would tack on two more in the second as Spadt and Celina Thornton reached with one-out singles. Limm then walked to load the bases and Madrid followed with an infield single to bring home Spadt. A bases-loaded walk to Luster drove home the second run, but Biola was not able to get any more out of the inning.
Biola would take a 4-0 lead in the top of the fourth on a double by Luster which brought home Madrid.
However, the Pilots mounted a late come back, scoring two in the top of the fifth on a two-out, two-run double. They would then tie the game in the sixth on back-to-back home runs.
The Eagles had a chance to break the tie in the bottom of the sixth as Thornton singled and Madrid followed with a single as well one out later. However, Newell came on in relief and was able to get back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
Bethel would then score two in the top of the seventh to go on top for good.
Despite her great day at the plate helping with much of the offense, she suffered the loss overall, falling to 3-3 on the season. She was able to strike out seven, but could not hold off the strong offense of the Pilots.
Biola returns to action on Friday, traveling to San Marcos for a pair of non-conference games as part of the Cal State San Marcos Invitational. The Eagles face the No. 2-ranked Cal State San Marcos Cougars at 1:00 p.m., then face Simpson University at 3:00 p.m.
