Cayden Jones

Box Score

BIOLA BU-SB 21-13

Hawai'i Hilo UHH-SB 19-12

BIOLA BU-SB

21-13

Final

May. 21, 2021

Hawai'i Hilo UHH-SB

19-12

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H	E
BIOLA BU-SB	0	0	2	0	3	4	9	12	1
Hawai'i Hilo UHH-SB	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0

W: Austin, Paige (12-5) L: Gonzales, Leah (7-3)

Game Recap: Softball | May 21, 2021 | Ethan McGarvey, Assistant Sports Information Director

Championship Bound

Biola is one win away from being NCAA DII West Region Champions, after defeating Hawaii Hilo.

Next Game:

vs. Concordia Irvine

5/22/2021 | 12 p.m.

Next Game

Full Schedule

May. 22 (Sat) / 12 p.m.

vs. Concordia Irvine

History

Recap
Roster

IRVINE, Calif. --- The final game of the winner's bracket in the NCAA Division II West Regional Championships came down to a matchup between second-seeded Biola and fifth-seeded Hawaii Hilo. The Eagles put together a dominant performance, surging past the Vulcans, 9-0, to end the game after six innings.

The Friday victory advanced BU into the championship round on Saturday, and the team needs just one more win to become NCAA Division II West Region Champs and secure one of eight spots in the NCAA Division II Finals.

"I am extremely proud of the girls, they have been preparing for this moment all season," said Head Coach Nikki Udria. "It's exciting as a coach when you see your team playing their best softball towards the end."

Paige Austin set the pace in the Biola victory, toeing the rubber for the second-straight game. After allowing a leadoff hit in the bottom of the first, Austin flew through 10-consecutive Vulcans without giving up another hit.

On the day, the Biola ace gave up three total hits with all three being singles. The low hit total helped the righty pull off a six-inning shutout, while fanning six batters in the contest.

"Paige was awesome today, she knows that she's got a strong defense to back her up," said battery mate Kayla Neff. "She did well with mixing up all of her pitches. She is not a one-sided pitcher. She moved the ball well and was able to come back from some tough counts and kept attacking hitters.

The Biola bats did their part, compiling nine runs with scoring spurts in the third, fifth and sixth frames. The offensive group tallied 12 base hits and seven walks to record its first run rule win this season. The Eagles set season-highs in hits and runs scored.

Five consecutive Eagles reached base to start the third inning, helping Biola gain the lead. Ruth Munoz walked to reach first base, before Jennifer Morinishi was hit by a pitch to place runners on first and second with one out. Abie Nowak came to the plate and knocked an RBI single to right-center field, scoring Munoz for a 1-0 BU advantage.

Neff kept the momentum in full swing, logging a single of her own to double the Biola lead. Morinishi scored from third on the base hit, notching her 14th run of the season.

Patience at the plate was the key to another Biola in the fifth frame. An Abie Nowak single started the offensive opportunity but was followed by three-straight walks to add BU's third run of the game.

A strong defensive play slowed the BU attack, as UHH turned a double play to leave runners at second and third with two outs. Kaitlyn Hawkins entered the game as a pinch hitter and delivered in her first at bat of the tournament. The freshman recorded a two-RBI single, placing the ball through the right side of the infield.

The Eagles were not content with their 5-0 lead, as Biola offered its best offensive output of the tournament, so far. The first eight batters of the sixth reached base, as the team gathered two walks, two hit-by-pitches and three singles.

Raylene Roybal logged the big hit, scoring two for BU with a single. Four runs in the sixth gave Biola nine on the day, enough to cut the game short in six innings.

Four Eagles put together a multi-hit effort in the rout, including Abie Nowak, Neff, Rilee Ruvalcaba and Allie Beck. Ruvalcaba picked up the lone extra-base hit for BU, landing a double in the second. Four more Eagles notched multiple RBIs as well, including Neff, Roybal, Kylie Velasco and Hawkins.

"It was really exciting to contribute in a big spot," Beck said. "Coach has prepared us for this moment all season, we've put in a lot of work so I felt really confident going into today."

The victory in the circle marked the 12th in 2021 for Austin.

"In my experience with postseason softball it's all about momentum," said Udria. "As soon as the momentum was on our side for a while I knew that our team was going to be successful."

With two wins in two days and a historic week already, Udria's message to her team was simple, "Celebrate while we can and then we move on to the next game. It's opening day every single day in the postseason."

Biola will now face off against either Concordia Irvine, Central Washington or Hawaii Hilo in the championship round. Game one will take place at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday at Eagles Field in Irvine.

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