LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola Softball did just enough to finish off its series sweep of Academy of Art on Sunday, answering back after two early ART U runs to win the game, 5-2.

All the game's runs came in the first two innings in a fast and furious start before both Paige Austin and ART U's Hannah Rose Balke settled in and put up zeroes for the rest of the rest of the game.

The Urban Knights opened the scoring with an aggressive approach in the first inning against Austin. They had the first two base runners reach via a dropped third strike and a late throw to second base trying to get the lead runner on a sacrifice bunt.

Those runners moved over to second and third on a standard sacrifice bunt to give Austin a nice little jam to work out of with just one out in the inning. Austin struck out the next hitter and pulled ahead in the count 0-2 against the no. 5 hitter, but a base hit up the middle scored two runs for the Urban Knights. ART U seemingly carried over some of the momentum from their late charge in the seventh inning of last night's game.

After Austin struck out the no. 6 batter, Biola answered back immediately in their half of the first inning. Ruth Munoz and Jennifer Morinishi recorded back-to-back singles and then executed a perfect double steal to give Biola two on with nobody out and shift all the pressure to Balke.

Kayla Neff walked to load the bases and bring up Ari Gonzales. Gonzales hit a popup on the infield that was called for an infield fly rule, but the second baseman dropped the ball, which allowed Munoz to scoot on home with Biola's first run.

Morinishi scored two batters later when Rilee Ruvalcaba hit a two-out single through the left side to tie up the game headed into the second frame.

Austin faced the minimum in the second inning to put the impetus back on the Eagles' offense to get something going. The offense did not disappoint.

A leadoff double from Tori Apodaca set the tone before Kiana Meriales walked to set up a prime RBI opportunity for Morinishi. The sophomore outfielder picked up her second hit of the day when she drove one to the wall in right-center and pushed home both runs.

Morinishi stole third base to make an easy RBI opportunity for Kayla Neff - who delivered. The senior catcher drove one on a line through the left side to bring the game to what would be the final, 5-2.

Austin only surrendered two more hits to ART U through the rest of her appearance. She was replaced by Morinishi at the start of the seventh inning as Head Coach Nikki Udria looked to her versatile no. 2 hitter to get the save.

Morinishi started the frame with a strikeout on a rise ball, then elicited a groundout to put Biola just one out away from clinching the game and series sweep. The Urban Knights got a two-out single before a groundout to Ruvalcaba at third ended the game. 

Austin improved to 4-1 with the win, striking out nine in her six innings of work. It was Morinishi's second save of the season. Her scoreless inning helped improve her ERA to 2.89. Through nine games this BU staff has an incredible 2.02 team ERA.

Morinishi should be a runaway favorite for PacWest Conference Player of the Week after ending this sweep with a 3-for-3 performance with two RBI and two runs scored. For the week she had nine hits, scored five runs and drove in seven. 

Neff also reached base in every plate appearance in this one to keep the offense driving. She was 2-for-2 and added a walk. Her plate discipline has been exemplary this year as she leads the team with eight walks.

The win allows Biola to improve to 7-2 overall and 4-0 in PacWest Conference play. They sit alone atop the PacWest Conference standings following this opening week.

Up next for BU is a home doubleheader against Concordia Portland (9-6) on Saturday, February 29 at 9:30 a.m.