Skip To Main Content

Biola University Athletics

Scoreboard

The Official Athletic Site of the Biola University Eagles

Scoreboard

West Region Champs Graphic
2
BIOLA BU-SB 21-14
3
Winner CUI CUI 34-12
BIOLA BU-SB
21-14
2
Final
3
CUI CUI
34-12
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
BIOLA BU-SB 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 4 0
CUI CUI 2 0 0 1 0 0 X 3 6 3

W: Nunes, Callie (12-3) L: Austin, Paige (12-6)

2
Winner BIOLA BU-SB 22-14
1
CUI CUI 34-13
Winner
BIOLA BU-SB
22-14
2
Final
1
CUI CUI
34-13
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
BIOLA BU-SB 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 8 2
CUI CUI 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 1

W: Roybal, Raylene (8-4) L: Sweeney, Kelsea (10-5)

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

Regional Champs

The Biola softball squad became NCAA DII West Regional Champions with a 2-1 win over Concordia on Saturday.

IRVINE, Calif. --- An immaculate southern California afternoon was the perfect setting for history within the Biola softball program. The second-seeded BU Eagles edged the top-seeded Concordia Eagles in the second game of the day, earning the NCAA DII West Regional Crown and a trip to the NCAA DII National Tournament.



In its first appearance in the NCAA DII West Regional Championships, Biola came out on top of the winners bracket. Entering Saturday's action, Biola needed just one win in two possible games against Concordia to nab the championship. Previously this season, CUI had never swept a doubleheader against Biola through six total in the regular season.

BU needed that trend to continue following a heart-breaking loss in the opening contest of the afternoon. Concordia squeezed by Biola, 3-2, to force the winner-take-all game.

PacWest Coach of the Year Nikki Udria knew it would be a tough battle against Concordia, "We are both two great ball clubs. We've beaten each other up all year," said Udria. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy."

Raylene Roybal was handed the ball for game two and proved to be the star of the show. The freshman rose to the occasion, offering a complete game from the circle without allowing an earned run.

The righty overcame a leadoff walk in the first inning to put out six-straight hitters in a row. Back-to-back singles to start the third came back to bite though, as an error helped load the bases and set up a sacrifice fly for an unearned CUI score.

Roybal did not let the 1-0 deficit impede her momentum, as she proceeded to post scoreless frames in the fourth and fifth innings.

On the offensive end, Abie Nowak provided a highlight in the fourth, logging her second career triple with a shot down the left field line. The true freshman was impressive in the No. 3 spot of the lineup, going two-for-three in the contest.

With the game still resting a 1-0 in favor of Concordia, BU needed to rally as they entered the sixth frame. 

Haley Martinez pinch hit to begin the sixth and delivered with a leadoff single to second base. The senior advanced to second thanks to a sacrifice bunt laid down by Nowak. A constant theme on Saturday continued with the next at-bat, as CUI pitched around Kayla Neff for the third time on the day.

Runners on first and second with one out set the stage for Roybal, who put the ball in play towards the third baseman. The Concordia fielder recorded a throwing error on the play, allowing Martinez to score from second, Neff to reach third from first and Roybal to reach first safely.

The good fortune continued for Biola, as Kylie Velasco tacked on the game-winning run with a single back up the middle. Neff walked home, giving BU two runs in the frame and a 2-1 lead over Concordia.

In the on-deck circle, "I looked on base and I saw my two seniors standing on first and second and I told myself, 'There is no way I can't let them score and have this moment for them. I need to do it for them,'" commented Velasco.

The switch of fates brought the pressure right back onto Roybal, as the young talent needed to keep the CUI Eagles scoreless through the final two frames to secure the victory. A one-out single from Riley Rohr disrupted the bottom of the sixth but a strikeout and a groundout wrapped up the frame for Roybal.

Biola threatened in the top of the seventh but came up empty, keeping the score at 2-1 with three outs remaining.

Roybal worked quickly through the first two batters, forcing a groundout and flyout within the first two pitches of each at bat. With one out to go, Roybal faced off against the PacWest Player of the Year, McKinsey Thorpe. The battle went to a full count, before Thorpe grounded out to Ruth Munoz, finalizing the 2-1 Biola victory.

On the day, Roybal allowed just four hits, one run and two walks in her eighth win of the season. The standout needed just 80 pitches to deliver the seven-inning complete game.

Munoz ended the game strong at the plate, landing her eighth multi-hit outing this season with a single in the fifth and seventh innings.

The spectacular championship winning contest followed a nail-biting competition in game one. Late offense from Biola mirrored the action from game two but the team failed to overcome an early deficit. 

CUI opened up the first game of the day with two runs in the bottom of the first. The host team was hot from the start, recording a single and triple in the first three pitches they saw. CUI finished the frame with two runs and added one more in the fourth to build a 3-0 advantage.

Facing off against the PacWest Pitcher of the Year in Callie Nunes, the BU bats struggled to get things going. Nunes carried a no-hitter through four innings, as BU continued to look for its first base runner of the game.

Neff ended the drought with a leadoff single in the fifth. Roybal followed with a double, placing runners at second and third to give BU its best scoring opportunity so far. Pinch runner, Maddie Riley, touched home to impact the scoreboard for BU off a Velasco sacrifice fly to right field.

The offense maintained its momentum, as the first three batters of the sixth reached base. With the bases juiced, Nowak logged an RBI with a sacrifice fly, cutting the deficit to 3-2, before CUI capped off the inning with the third out.

Entering the final frame, BU still needed one run to extend the contest. Back-to-back hits from Madison Blossey and Allie Beck put two runners in scoring position with one out on the board. CUI loaded the base with an intentional walk, as the tying run stood on second. 

Nunes stepped up for CUI, helping collect the final two outs and finishing off the 3-2 Concordia win.

On the afternoon, Neff was a key part in the scoring output of BU, playing a part in half of Biola's four runs on Saturday.

Following Saturday's contests, the season series remained in Biola's favor, as BU finished 2021 with an 8-6 season series lead over CUI. 

As the West Regional Champions, Biola will play in the NCAA DII National Championships set to begin on Thursday May 27 in Denver, Colorado at The Assembly Athletic Complex at Metro State.

"I feel very well equipped to go to Denver and to make a statement for the west region and the PacWest and to represent our conference well," added Udria.
Print Friendly Version
Skip Ad

Sponsors