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Scoreboard

Kayla Neff running
3
Biola BU-SB 24-16, 19-11 PacWest
4
Winner Azusa Pacific APU 31-17, 22-11 PacWest
Biola BU-SB
24-16, 19-11 PacWest
3
Final
4
Azusa Pacific APU
31-17, 22-11 PacWest
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Biola BU-SB 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 3 8 0
Azusa Pacific APU 2 1 0 0 1 0 X 4 7 0

W: Espinoza, Racqual (12-8) L: Chavez, Kaile (2-2) S: Mejia, Megan (1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Left Hanging

An out at home plate cuts short a Biola rally and delays gratification until NCCAA World Series.

AZUSA, Calif. --- Three times the Eagles loaded the bases with fewer than two outs. Three times Azusa Pacific managed to get out of it only allowing one run, including when a throw from center field to home plate ended the game with Biola's game-tying run instead called an out.

The Cougars managed to ride some early offense to a 4-3 victory to earn a split in the doubleheader.

Azusa Pacific announced early on that it would not be getting shutout in this game. They scored twice before the first out was made in the bottom of the first and added one more in the second to take a 3-0 lead in their seniors' final home game.

It was a senior, Melanie Abzun, that was responsible for most of their scoring in the second contest. She hit a two-run triple to account for all the scoring in the first and then hit a solo homer to straight-away center field to put APU ahead 4-1 in the fifth. That homer would prove to be the most important run of the game, keeping the Cougars ahead despite BU's bats producing a few late runs.

Biola had made some noise in the top of that fifth inning as it pushed one run across courtesy a Kayla Neff double. After that hit, the Eagles loaded the bases with just one out and the heart of the order due up. The Eagles made contact but couldn't get any more across in the inning.

The run came in support of Paula Damas, who had a stellar performance in relief. She threw five innings of three-hit ball, and the only scoring she allowed was the solo homer. It was much a much needed effort from the junior after APU's bats were full of hits (and runs) early on.

Just like in the fifth, the Eagles once again loaded the bases in their half of the sixth. Again though, it was the Cougars who managed to limit the damage. Singles from Sicili Brittingham and Jennifer Morinishi, coupled with a Tori Apodaca double and Haley Martinez walk, created a dangerous situation but an inning-ending double play killed the Eagles' rally.

Same story in the seventh as Biola proved patient as APU's new pitcher struggled to find the strike zone with consistency. The Eagles had three walks and a single, which allowed Ruth Munoz to bring the game back within one when she touched the plate on a Tori Apodaca RBI single.

With the bases loaded and one out Andi Hormel hit a fly ball to center field that seemed borderline deep enough to score the run from third. The Cougars' center field threw a laser to home plate and caught Areana Ramos by the absolute slimmest of margins to end the game and give APU a solid story to finish its senior day.

Biola out-hit APU eight to seven with three players logging two-hit efforts. Kayla Neff, Tori Apodaca and Jennifer Morinishi all had two hits, with each of them also either scoring or driving in at least one run.

The loss wraps up Biola's regular season with a 24-16 overall mark and 19-11 PacWest Conference record. Azusa Pacific preserved its opportunity to reach the NCAA Division II West Regional with its 31-17 record and 22-11 PacWest mark.

Next up for Biola is the NCCAA World Series in Botetourt, Va. The Eagles will be the west region representative at the tournament, which runs from May 15-17. Full seeding and schedule will be announced next week.
 
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