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The Official Athletic Site of the Biola University Eagles

Scoreboard

Abie Nowak at first base
Ethan McGarvey
2
Winner Biola BU-SB 2-1
1
Colorado Mesa CMSB 1-1
Winner
Biola BU-SB
2-1
2
Final
1
Colorado Mesa CMSB
1-1
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
Biola BU-SB 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 6 0
Colorado Mesa CMSB 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1

W: Austin, Paige (2-0) L: Ellie Smith (0-1)

Game Recap: Softball |

Just In The Nowak Of Time

Abie Nowak drives in the game-tying run and scores the winner in a dramatic 7th.

IRVINE, Calif. — It was a case of delayed gratification for No. 3 Biola Softball on Friday as they began play at the CUI Kick-Off Classic out at OC Great Park. After a tough loss being blanked in the opener, Biola had to transition to its first top-25 matchup of the year against No. 21 Colorado Mesa.

It was a pitcher's duel between a pair of Paige's as Paige Austin got the call to go head-to-head against Paige Adair of Colorado Mesa. Austin threw a complete game, 1-hit masterpiece while striking out 13 of the heavy hitting Mavericks en route to a 2-1 Biola victory.

The end result is great, but the journey there was treacherous as Biola had to fight tooth and nail to pick up its second win on the young season. The Eagles stranded eight runners through the first six innings of play to head into the top of the seventh staring at a head-scratching 1-0 deficit.

The Eagles had runners reach scoring position in the first, second, fourth and fifth innings and had at least one runner on base in all innings except the sixth, but they could not find a way to get something other than a zero on the board for much of the game.

This was tough, considering how solid Austin was on the flip side, hardly giving the BU fielders a chance to put their gloves on display. The few times the ball was put in play the Eagles' fielders did well, with notable shortstop play from Rilee Ruvalcaba and excellent outfield positioning throughout.

After a quick first out in Biola's top of the seventh it was sophomore standout Allie Beck who got the rally started with an infield chopped single right back to the pitcher. Jennifer Morinishi singled back up the middle to the right of the second-base bag to put two runners on and one away with Biola clamoring to try to tie things up.

After that, Abie Nowak smacked one into right field, allowing Beck to score to tie the game. Nowak wisely advanced to second on the throw home to set up two go-ahead runners in scoring position for one away in a 1-1 ballgame.

The rally was momentarily halted as a hard-hit ground ball to shortstop ended with Morinishi being gunned down at a heavily guarded home plate for out number two of the seventh.

Fortunately for Biola, a wild pitch to start the next at-bat led to Nowak scooting around to score the go-ahead tally to make the game 2-1. 

That was all the margin Austin would need as she continued her spectacular start to the 2022 campaign. The senior initiated a flyout to left field followed by six straight strikes for back-to-back Ks to end the game and get the win.

Biola improves to 2-1, Austin to 2-0, while the Mavericks drop their first of the season following a 9-1 win earlier in the day.
The Eagles are back in action with two more to close out the CUI Kick-Off Classic on Saturday. They open at 9:15 a.m. against San Francisco State (1-1) and then have a go at Sonoma State (1-1) at 2 p.m.
 
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