By: Neil Morgan, Sports Information Director
Box Score
DENVER, Colo. --- The big stage turned out to be just the right size for Biola Softball's team 28 to put on a show during the first game of the NCAA Division II Softball Finals on Thursday.
The Eagles came out more energized, more locked in and more motivated than their opposition, and that vibe turned into a victory for Head Coach Nikki Udria's 5th-seeded squad.
"I'm very proud of my girls," said Udria. "We've been talking about what it takes to win championships, and today I thought they did a great job executing in all three phases of what it takes to win."
It was national finals number 10 for the North Georgia team in the third-base dugout, but the crisp defense, great pitching and nonstop offensive pressure gave the advantage to the upstart Eagles' team savoring its first appearance in the final eight.
A one-hit shutout from Paige Austin coupled with a 4-run fifth inning from the Eagles made the difference in the 4-0 shutout of a UNG team that came into the day top-5 in the nation in homeruns and averaging nearly seven runs-per-game
"I told them early on in the game, don't give in and don't give up," said Udria. "They didn't stop pushing and, thankfully, it paid off for us."
The Biola offense is not built around the homerun, and the Eagles proved great softball is not all about the big bopping as it was a pair of infield singles from Madison Blossey and Allie Beck that got the game-winning outburst started in the top of the fifth.
"We want to put pressure on the defense. We want to move the runners," said Udria. "We want to make sure it's a team effort, and like you guys saw today it doesn't take the long ball to win the big ballgames."
After those two legged out their 60-foot base hits, a groundout from Ruth Munoz moved them over to second and third with Biola primed to break through against NFCA All-American and 2018 and 2019 NCAA Division II Pitcher of the Year Kylee Smith.
Dealing with a multiple time all American in the circle was nothing new for this Biola lineup after having to deal with some of the best pitching in the country in the PacWest.
So, it was no surprise that from the second inning up until the scoring started Biola had at least one base runner each inning to keep pushing the UNG starter whose rise ball was not doing much to fool the patient BU batters
There was no bigger moment to that point in the game than this opportunity with the game locked at 0-0 and two runners in scoring position.
At this particular moment coach Udria knew exactly who she was going to turn to in order to get a big hit. She made a call to bring in freshman Brie Nowak to pinch-hit with the two RBI sitting out on the base paths and the decision paid off in spades.
Nowak hit the ball just past the outstretched glove of the UNG third-baseman to drive in two on a single. Her heads-up base running allowed her to advance to second on the throw to the plate and set up another great offensive opportunity, this time for her twin sister, Abie.
"I told Brie she was made for this," said Udria. "I kept whispering it in her ear. I was even shouting it from the third-base coaches' box, and she did just that. She's a competitor and I had all the confidence in the world that Brie would be able to get it done."
"I was nervous stepping into that position, but I've had a couple moments just like that throughout the season where I haven't succeeded every single time," said Nowak. "I've honestly learned from that and so I went in with confidence, hearing the positive talk from coach Nikki, and I just wanted to get the job done for my team."
Abie quickly turned the ball around to put runners on the corners for BU with still just one out in the inning and the meat of the BU lineup coming to the plate. At this point the roof had blown off the first base dugout with the Eagles' cheers and chants thriving as they saw a chance to put the first nail in the proverbial coffin.
As she has her entire Biola career, Kayla Neff found a way to come up with a big hit to extend the Biola lead. Neff drove in both Nowaks with one swing and doubled the BU lead behind a locked-in Paige Austin.
Paige was perfect through the first three innings, setting down the Georgian juggernaut in order one through nine with two strikeouts along the way. Her first K of the day was number 155 of the season, which is a new career-best in a single-season for the Eagles' ace.
She gave up a leadoff single to begin the fourth inning for UNG, making the bottom of the fourth the most uncomfortable inning of the day for the BU defense. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runner to second with just one out, but a pop-out and strikeout stranded the runner at second and sent Biola to the bat rack for what would be the decisive effort.
Even the few times UNG did get its runners on base, the Biola defense stepped up. Ruth Muñoz made highlight play after highlight play at shortstop and was drawing comparisons to Francisco Lindor by the NCAA broadcast crew.
"Our coach teaches us that it's nine against one," said
Paige Austin. "I have a full defense out there, and I completely trust in their abilities, so I just go out there and trust my stuff knowing they have my back."
After Biola took the lead the defense continued to offer big momentum boosts as Kayla Neff and Kylie Velasco connected on a strike 'em out, throw 'em out double play to end the North Georgia fifth inning.
After that play the game was all but over as both teams went down in order in both the sixth and seventh innings.
The Eagles managed six hits total and had eight base runners in the game, a stark contrast to the three total base runners allowed by Austin and the BU defense.
"Nerves are natural. You are going to be nervous," said Udria. "It's just all about how you channel it. It's about making the plays you make all the time.
Ruth Munoz made some fantastic plays today. It's making plays like that, plays that come naturally because of all the work we put in, that make the nerves really come down. "
Beck had another fantastic outing as the true freshman continues to come on strong at the end of this season and into the postseason. She had two of the Biola hits, scored a run and had a big defensive play in right field, cutting off a ball to keep a batter to a single on a batted ball that easily could have been two or three bases.
The win keeps Biola as one of four teams in the winner's bracket at the NCAA Division II Softball Finals. BU will be the visiting team in the first game of the day on Friday, facing No. 1 seed and No. 1 ranked Augustana (S.D.) (48-6), who defeated No. 8 seed Valdosta State 10-1 earlier on Thursday.
First pitch is scheduled for 10 a.m. PT.
All games will be played at the Assembly Athletic Complex on the campus of MSU Denver, which is operating at full capacity. Tickets are $8 per game and must be purchased online in advance. There is no all-tournament ticket or multi-game passes. Additionally, MSU Denver does charge for parking with a fee between $5.50 - $7 per day.
All games will feature a free live stream at NCAA.com and live stats, also at NCAA.com. The game one direct live link is https://www.ncaa.com/game/5843659. All game times and links will be updated on the Biola Softball Schedule page and also at the tournament central page on the Metro State website.
