LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Despite leading both games of the doubleheader in the later innings, Biola was unable to hold on and secure the victory as Menlo College swept the non-conference twinbill by scores of 10-9 in eight innings and 5-4 on Wednesday afternoon at Freedom Field.

The Eagles drop to 7-11 with the loss while the Oaks improve to 7-13 on the season.

The day got off to a quiet start as the teams combined for no runs on four hits through the first four innings of game one. Biola would get on the board first with three runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out and the bases loaded on walks, Chelsea Limm would drive home the first run with a single. Brooke Madrid then followed with a two-run single to make it 3-0.

Menlo would score its first run on two hits in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles appeared to have the game in hand with a two-run lead heading into the seventh. However, the Oaks weren't quite finished and batted around for six runs--four of which were unearned after a costly error which should have been the second out. When the dust settled, Menlo was on top 7-3.

Biola didn't go away quietly either, answering right back in the bottom of the inning. With two on and two out, Madrid came up clutch again, doubling to left-center to score one. CeCe Luster then nearly tied the game with a home run only to see it just hit off the top of the fence and stay in play for a double. Two runs would score on the play with Luster coming around on an error to tie the game during the next at bat.

In the eight, Menlo answered right back, scoring the international tiebreaker runner from second with a two-out single to left. After another single put two Oaks runners on base, another costly, two-out error allowed both to come around and score, making it 10-7 Menlo.

The Eagles would respond in kind, scoring the tiebreaker runner with two out on a single by Sarah Stromwall. After a walk, Limm would single home another run and represented the winning run at first. But a rocket ground ball to third was snared and a great play made on the speedy Madrid to end the game.

Luster came on in relieft and suffered the loss for the Eagles though she did collect a hit and drive in a pair of runs in the contest. Limm and Madrid--Biola's 1-2 hitters--combined to go 6-for-8 with five RBIs and two runs scored.

Biola again got off to a quick start in game two as Limm and Madrid both singled and Luster brought everyone home with a three-run monster home run to dead center to give the Eagles an early 3-0 lead.

Luster would maintain that lead for the Eagles through five innings, allowing just two runs on four hits. But Menlo came back from a run down in the six to score three times, taking advantage of a physical error and a mental error to take a 5-3 lead. 

Biola would rally in the seventh, getting back to within one on a home run to left-center off the bat of Vanessa Coleman. But it wouldn't be enough as Menlo held on for the sweep.

The Eagles have a short turnaround, returning to action on Thursday with a non-conference doubleheader against Holy Names beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Freedom Field.