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Scoreboard

Kylie Velasco pointing
Shelly Blunck
2
Winner Biola University BU-SB 10-2
0
Hawaii Hilo UHH-SB 7-8
Winner
Biola University BU-SB
10-2
2
Final
0
Hawaii Hilo UHH-SB
7-8
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Biola University BU-SB 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 9 0
Hawaii Hilo UHH-SB 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0

W: Austin, Paige (6-1) L: Valerie Alvarado (3-4)

Game Recap: Softball |

Austin's Gem Opens Trip

Biola gets a complete game shutout from Paige Austin to win game one at Hilo.

KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii --- Paige Austin was dominant for seven full innings to open the series against Hawaii Hilo on Monday. She earned her fifth complete game of the season and held the Vulcans to just two hits and one walk en route to a 2-0 Biola win.

"[Having Paige pitch like that] gives us the confidence we need," said shortstop Ruth Munoz. "Constantly talking to her helps out all of us. We have her back and we know she has ours. We can shake off any mistake and be confident in her."

The game zipped along for the first five innings as both starters seemed locked in and were inducing quick outs. It wasn't until the top of the sixth when Biola finally broke through to manufacture some runs.

The Eagles' top of the lineup once again came through to begin the rally with a Ruth Munoz single and Jennifer Morinishi ground-rule double setting the plate for the middle of the order with just one out in the inning.

Kayla Neff was up next and had the most memorable at-bat of the afternoon, seeing 14 total pitches en route to a walk to fill the open base at first. She fouled off six pitches in a row with a 1-2 count before ultimately finding her way on base.

With the bases loaded, new Biola cleanup hitter Kylie Velasco came through with a single hit hard right up the middle of the infield to bring both Munoz and Morinishi across home plate.

"It was awesome to score that way," said Munoz. "It shows that it's a team sport and that not just one person can do it. It was great to see everyone step up and get some hits."

That would be all the action for Biola in their half of the sixth, as a pop up fielded by the shortstop in shallow left field turned into a double play with a Biola runner getting gunned down at home plate.

Austin had a 1-2-3 sixth inning to keep the energy trending in Biola's favor, including a pair of swinging strikeouts on her rise ball. The junior hurler had seven strikeouts in the contest.

Biola got a hard-hit single from Tori Apodaca in the seventh inning, but couldn't bring her home keeping the game within striking distance heading into the game's final half-inning.

Austin, for the first time, got into a touch of trouble in that bottom of the seventh as Hilo got a one-out walk and single to bring the game-winning run into the batter's box in the form of slugger Vevesi Liilii.

Liilii popped up right to Austin in front of the pitcher's circle for the second out. Then, she induced a groundout that tipped off the glove of a diving Kiana Meriales, but into the waiting arms of Kylie Velasco who stepped on first base for the final out of the game.

Biola had nin hits in the game, stranding four runners throughout the course of the day. The two runs were enough to get it done, but Biola would've liked to be a bit more comfortable, especially late in the game.

Apodaca had two hits in her three at-bats, making the most of a start in left field. Kayla Neff and Ari Gonzales and Kayla Neff also had a pair of hits. Neff was a key cog all game, reaching base all three times in the box. 

The win was Biola's 10th of the season, helping them improve to 10-2 overall and 5-0 in PacWest Conference competition. The two teams are playing once more on Monday afternoon at Kealakehe HS in Kona.

Follow that game live at https://portal.stretchinternet.com/hawaiihilo/.
 
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