KANEOHE, Hawaii --- Kylie Velasco had an inspired performance at the dish and Paula Damas and Jennifer Morinishi both had hitters guessing inside the pitching circle en route to a 4-2 win for Biola in game two, Thursday.

Unlike the first contest, Biola had to play from behind for much of the second game of this opening day doubleheader. HPU scored a run in the second inning to open the scoring. The Eagles answered immediately via a Kylie Velasco RBI double. 

But, then the Sharks found a way to scratch out a run again, this time using small ball and speed in an impressive manner. Their leadoff batter Cieana Curran reached via walk, went first to third on an attempted sacrifice bunt and then came home on a hard-hit groundout to shortstop.

The Eagles again answered with just one run of their own. It was great to tie it up, but the Eagles had to be left wanting more since they scored the run on a Morinishi double with one out, but could not get another run home before the inning came to a close.

The game remained tied at two until it was sent into the final inning of the contest. Biola had its ninth batter and then the top of the order due up to lead off that seventh. Kiana Meriales took it upon herself to start the rally early in the inning.

Like Velasco, Meriales was a big part of what Head Coach Nikki Udrias team was able to accomplish in the second half of Thursday's doubleheader. She was 3-for-3 and scored two runs in the nightcap, inlcuding a fun one where she pushed home all the way from first base.

The go-ahead run touched home plate when Meriales' pinch-runner Caitlin Fowble came home on a Jennifer Morinishi double. Biola, seeing how quickly HPU can manufacture single runs, made it a missing to extend that lead enough to create space to relax in the bottom of the seventh.

That insurance run trotted home later in the inning as Kayla Neff hit one just in front of the outstretched glove of a diving left fielder to find grass and score Morinishi from second base.

With a two-run lead in tow Morinishi and her teammates went back out to the field with three outs to get and surging with confidence. They were able to play an efficient defensive half, needing just 12 pitches to get a pair of groundouts and a flyout to end the game in Biola's favor.

The win brings Morinishi's pitching record even for the season and helped her drop her ERA and Biola's team ERA just a bit. The sophomore dual-threat has a 3.18, while the whole staff now sits at 2.41.

The Eagles' lineup managed 11 hits throughout the ballgame, led by Velasco's 3-for-4 effort. The junior second-baseman added that to a 2-for-4 outing in the first game to make for a really nice day. 

Paula Damas began the game in the circle for Biola, going four strong innings of four-hit ball. She handed it off to Morinishi who had a whale of an effort in relief. She threw three no-hit innings, allowing just one base runner via a walk.

Biola improves to 14-3 overall and 9-1 in PacWest Conference play following this day one sweep. The Eagles are in sole possession of first place in the league because Concordia Irvine lost twice at Hawaii Hilo on Thursday to drop to 13-4 overall and 7-3 in PacWest Conference play.

The Eagles and Sharks are scheduled for two more matchups in Kaneohe on Firday, beginning at 1 p.m. local time and 3 p.m. PT. Follow both games via live stats at https://athletics.biola.edu/sidearmstats/softball/summary.