ALHAMBRA, Calif. --- Defense and pitching has been  the focus of the Biola Softball program over the past few seasons. Karen Lieng of Maranatha High School will add to that philosophy in 2016 as she commits to join the Eagles.
 
Lieng won a Defensive Player of the Year honor during her time with the Minutemen and was also a three-time all-league honoree. She was named to the all-league first team as a senior and the second team during her sophomore and junior seasons.
 
"Karen is very athletic and capable of playing multiple positions on the field," said Head Coach Lorie Coleman. "She will also be a welcome lefty in our lineup."
 
Lieng comes in listed as a catcher/first baseman, but will be likely to move around a bit in her first year on the field as Coleman tries to find the best spot for a new left-handed player. The Eagles' 2015 roster had just one lefty in the everyday lineup.
 
The Alhambra local was also the recipient of the Maranatha HS coaches' award as a senior. She will join Anjie Amezquita as the second Biola Softball player out of Maranatha in the last two seasons.
 
"I chose Biola because of the Christian community and the friendly environment," said Lieng.
 
She plans to major in business accounting and eventually have a career as an owner of a non-slavery or environmentally friendly company.
 
She will begin classes in the fall and can be seen at Freedom field in Spring 2016.