By: Neil Morgan, Associate Athletic Director
Box Score
DENVER, Colo. --- All week long the story was told that not many people knew much about Biola softball coming into this NCAA Division II Championship tournament. At the end of six games in Denver, though, no one at the championship had any doubt about what Team 28 was all about.
While providing thrilling wins and incredible performances on the field along an incredible journey to being national runner-up, this Biola team had an even bigger parallel mission. A mission that was reinforced daily by Head Coach Nikki Udria and permeated every relationship formed throughout the facility this week. That mission was to tell His story and show the many ways God blessed this team and can bless others, too.
The Eagles' run on the field ultimately came one win short on Tuesday as West Texas A&M used one swing of the bat to clear the bases in the bottom of the sixth and turn a 1-0 Biola lead into a 4-1 advantage for the Lady Buffs. A score that would hold and secure the second title in program history for West Texas A&M.
"I'm obviously proud of my team for making history today," said Head Coach Nikki Udria. "Making it this far in the season is an accomplishment in and of itself. So I think it's a blessing for these seniors to sit to the left and to the right of me and to finish their careers in the national championship game. I don't think a lot of people can say that they've done that."
Certainly, the end result will sting for today, but it cannot be overstated what this run means for the program, for the school and for the community Team 28 was intent to influence this week. It was a week filled with good hitting, good pitching, good defense and the Good News.
Udria's special squad made a run that's not been seen in a long time from a PacWest institution. It's been over a decade since a PWC Softball team finished as high as national runner-up and this team did it all while riding in with a No. 24 national ranking and no one giving them much of a chance to stay past the second day.
Now, it's assured the Eagles will be ranked much higher than that as Team 29 begins its ascent next spring, following historic wins over the No. 1 Augustana Vikings, No. 2 North Georgia NightHawks and an emphatic game one win over the now national champion Lady Buffs.
Biola got on the board first in the deciding game as senior Kayla Neff turned a ball around over the left-center field fence in her final at-bat as an Eagle. She could barely round the bases before the tears began flowing knowing what her third home run of the tournament could mean for her team.
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"I mean Kayla's career here has been nothing short of ordinary. She's done amazing things for this program and contributed in ways, both on and off the field," said Udria. "I think her legacy will continue on and she'll continue to make an impact no matter where she goes in the world. Kayla was rounding the bases and it was emotional. I mean it was her final game and for God to bless her with the abilities to be able to do that, and for her to get that opportunity I think is what brings the emotion, just seeing how faithful God is to allow a senior to have the opportunity to hit a home run, and then to put our team ahead in that moment."Â
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"I mean, you guys saw the emotion, obviously," said Neff. "Our goal this year, obviously, was to be national champions, but our number one goal was to make His story shown and to let other people know why we are here and who we play for and so I think that we did that this trip."
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After the bomb, Paige Austin came back out to the circle with a 1-0 lead. She was riding a streak of what was now 34.1 straight scoreless innings. The Eagles' ace, and one of four Biola players to make the all-tournament team, gave up a single, hit-by-pitch and walk before West Texas A&M freshman Gabriella Valforte hit a one-out grand slam to put the Lady Buffs on top.
West Texas A&M had a few more runners reach throughout the inning, prompting coach Udria to turn to Jennifer Morinishi out of the bullpen. Morinishi got a pair of pop outs to end the threat and send BU back to the bat rack with a manageable difference left to make up.
Following the direction of coach Udria and her emphasis that no mountain is too steep to overcome, the team never gave up, never lost faith and made some noise in those last ABs.
Madison Blossey continued her notable performance at the tournament with a two-out double, giving senior Haley Martinez another shot to get her second hit of the day. She got ahead in the count 3-0 before ultimately making some contact and rolling a ground ball for the final out.
The Eagles' historic season came to a close at 26-16 overall and were one of two teams remaining in all of NCAA Division II. An accomplishment that certainly cements this team's legacy for future generations of Eagles who will come out to try and climb this mountain.
"I talked with my team and I just told them that it's an honor to coach them and it's been an honor to watch them play," said Udria. "We've been talking about history and making His story famous and, no matter what, nobody can take away that team 28 was the runner-up in the national championship. So there's nothing to hang our heads about. Unfortunately, it didn't go our way, but you know, we've got to get back up and dust ourselves off and come back next year and get back to it."
Paige Austin, Ruth Munoz, Kayla Neff and Jennifer Morinishi were all named to the all-tournament team for helping lead the Eagles to a 4-2 mark.
"If you see me crying now, it's like happy, happy tears, you know. I'm just so blessed to get another day to wear this jersey, you know," said Udria. "It's just like coach always says, like, He's blessed us with these talents and these abilities and, you know, we want to be good and we want to be the best at our sport, and he gives us a platform and we believe this national platform, it's to proclaim his name. So, all glory to God."
It was the last softball game in a Biola uniform for
Kayla Neff,
Haley Martinez and
Ruth Munoz. Those three have been a major piece of this program for years and we thank them for all they've given to this team.
"I'm super proud of what these three seniors have done for the program and the opportunities and the places they've gone," said Udria. "Nothing for them to hang their heads about, but to be proud of the legacy that they're leaving."
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