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Box Score 2 LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola suffered yet another pair of tough one-run losses on Saturday, falling 3-2 and 5-4 to Vanguard University in a GSAC doubleheader at Freedom Field.
The Eagles fall to 15-21 on the season and to 1-9 in GSAC play while the Lions move to 27-16 and to 5-5 in the conference.
Vanguard got off to a quick start in game one, scoring three runs in the second with Haley Croce coming up with the big blow, a two-run double to right center. She would then come around to score on a sacrifice fly to make it 3-0.
Biola rallied to close the gap with two runs in the fifth inning. With one out, Chelsea Limm doubled down the left field line and Brooke Madrid followed with an hit on the infield. Luster then singled home a run with a hit to left and one batter later, Vanessa Coleman drove home another with a single to left. However, the Eagles could not push across another and trailed 3-2 heading to the sixth.
The score would remain the same until the seventh when Biola put together one final rally. Luster singled with one out, followed by a single off the bat of Natalie Parker to put the go-ahead run on base. Coleman followed with a high fly to right which Luster moved to third on. However, on appeal, it was determined that she left early and was called out to end the rally and the game.
Luster had another solid start for the Eagles, allowing just one earned run on four hits with four strikeouts in the complete-game performance. After the three-run second, she allowed just one hit and two base runners the rest of the way. However, the offense could not overcome the deficit and she dropped to 7-12 on the season with the loss.
Stacie Salazar earned the win to improve to 8-4. Despite allowing 10 hits, she gave up just two runs and had nine strikeouts.
In game two, Biola got the early drop on Vanguard, scoring a run in the first. Madrid got the rally going with a double to the left-center field gap and came around to score on a single to right by Luster.
The Eagles went up by two in the third inning as Limm and Madrid singled to open the inning. Luster was then hit by a pitch to load the bases and Parker singled up the middle to bring home a run. However, Vanguard pitcher Rachel Stalford worked out of the jam by striking out the next three batters to end the inning.
Vanguard immediately made Biola pay for not scoring more, tallying three runs in the top of the fourth to take back the lead. After another two-run double by Croce made it a 3-2 game, the Lions had runners at second and third with one out, threatening more. But Biola starter Sarah Enriquez got a big strikeout and Kimberly Skoglund was thrown out at first from right field to save two more runs.
The Lions would score another run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly and tacked on another in the seventh to make it a 5-2 game heading the last chance frame for the Eagles.
Biola would put on a power display in the seventh, cutting the lead to one on solo home runs by Natalie Parker and pinch-hitter Sam Roberts. Leslie Larson and pinch-hitter Kayla Lamb would single to put the winning runs on base, but the Lions ended the game with a ground out.
Enriquez allowed just two earned runs in the contest on six hits, but suffered the defeat to drop to 8-8 on the season.
The Eagles have not had much success in one-run games, losing 10 of 15 on the season including three to Vanguard and three others to NAIA Top 25 teams.
Madrid had a solid pair of games for the Eagles overall, going 5-for-8 with two doubles and a run scored. Luster went 4-for-6 with a pair of RBIs and a walk as well.
Biola returns to action on Tuesday, hosting No. 1 Cal State San Marcos in a non-conference doubleheader at Freedom Field at 2:00 p.m. The game is a make-up for the rained-out doubleheader originally scheduled for mid-March.
