COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Biola overcame an eight-run deficit and rallied for two runs when down to its final out in game one, but Vanguard got a two-out, two-run walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh to win in a wild 11-10 GSAC game in Costa Mesa. The Lions also took game two, 6-3.
The Eagles drop to 8-14 on the season with the losses and fall to 0-2 in GSAC play. The Lions are now 18-11 and 2-0 in conference play.
The first game was a wild one, with Vanguard opening up an 8-0 lead through the first four innings. The Lions looked like they would easy wrap up a mercy-rule victory, needing just three outs in the top of the fifth for the win.
But Biola had other plans, rallying for eight runs to tie the game. With one out, the Eagles had three-straight hits by the top three in their lineup to start the rally. After an RBI-groundout by Natalie Parker made it an 8-2 game, Leslie Larson drove home a run on a single with Vanessa Coleman following with a two-run single to make it 8-4.
A few batters and a few runs later, Brooke Madrid recorded her second hit of the inning, driving home two runs to tie the game at 8-8.
Vanguard would get one back in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly and led 9-8 heading to the top of the seventh.
After two quick outs, Biola started to rally with Natalie Thornton singling to right. After a walk to Chelsea Limm, Madrid singled to left to load the bases. CeCe Luster then singled home a run with a single to right to tie the game at 9-9. Parker followed with a single to left to plate Limm with the go-ahead run, but Madrid was thrown out at the plate, ending the threat.
But a costly error opened the door for Vanguard in the bottom of the frame. With one out, a Biola error put the tying run at first. After a flyout which should have ended the game, the Lions got another single to extend the inning. Elizabeth Archer then ended the game with a double to plate two and win the game.
Freshman pitcher Sarah Enriquez suffered the loss, dropping to 5-5, allowing eight runs though none of them was earned. She also struck out three in 4-1/3 innings.
In the second game, Vanguard opened up a quick lead, scoring six runs over the course of the first five innings. Biola answered with a rally in the sixth inning, taking advantage of an error to score the first run. Ashley Spadt then drove home two with a double to left, but Parker was thrown out trying to score from first to end the threat.
Luster suffered the loss in that game to fall to 3-8 on the season.
Biola returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) at 2:00 p.m. in La Mirada.
