Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 IRVINE, Calif. --- Right on the heels of earning its first placement in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics' Coaches' Poll since early-2011 Biola softball had the task of competing in a road doubleheader against No. 1 Concordia.
 
The Eagles of Irvine took both contests to improve to 7-1 in Golden State Athletic Conference play and hand Biola its second and third straight losses.
 
It was not the result that many were anticipating as Biola entered the day as winners of 12 of its last 13 games and 14 of its last 16. Both games were as competitive as expected, with CUI getting 3-0 and 4-2 wins in two pitchers' duals.
 
Game one was Biola's second consecutive contest getting shutout, after the team had gone 25 straight games to start the season without a shutout loss.
 
Concordia's Brittani McGue was a big reason for Biola's unsuccessful offense, as the junior hurler shut down all of Biola's big bats and allowed just three hits in her complete game win. Her victory makes her 15-0 to start the season. She threw just 59 pitches in her seven innings of work, keeping efficient enough to remain fresh for an appearance in game two.
 
CeCe Luster was saddled with her fifth loss of the season, despite combining with Reba DePriest to allow just five hits in the early game.
 
A big two-run homerun by Annette Merjano in the bottom of the sixth inning made a 1-0 deficit more of a problem for Biola and proved to be more than enough insurance for the arm of McGue.
 
Sarah Stromwall and Vanessa Coleman each had a double in the early game, as the Eagles tried desperately to get anything going on their offensive end, but no one could push them home.
 
The longball again made a difference in the second game, as Concordia pushed ahead of Biola's early one-run advantage with another Merjano homer. This one was a three-spot and would prove to be the eventual game-winning hit as Biola was only able to push one more run across home plate.
 
The Eagles' other score came in the top of the sixth as Heather Hall was able to sacrifice Celina Thornton home from third base in an inning that looked like it could have been a big one for the Eagles.
 
Back-to-back singles from Luster and Thornton gave Biola two runners on to start the inning as they looked to overcome a now-three-run difference. Luster was then retired at third on a Bria Madrid fielder's choice that was immediately followed by an Ashley Spadt single to load the bases with one out.
 
A groundout and strikeout left the Eagles with just the lone run in the inning and effectively ended their chances of combing back as McGue was now pitching in relief.
 
It was a tough two-game stretch, but it proved that Biola could at the very least compete with the best-of-the-best, which is saying a lot after a tough couple of seasons in a row.
 
The Eagles will look to get back on their winning ways as they host Hope International, the second to last place team in the GSAC, on Thursday afternoon at 2 p.m.