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Scoreboard

Kaitlyn Hawkins at third bas
Cayden Jones
6
Winner Biola BU-SB 3-1
4
San Francisco State SFSU 1-2
Winner
Biola BU-SB
3-1
6
Final
4
San Francisco State SFSU
1-2
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Biola BU-SB 0 0 0 2 0 0 1 1 2 6 8 3
San Francisco State SFSU 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 7 2

W: Austin, Paige (3-0) L: MADDUX, Kaitlyn (0-2)

Game Recap: Softball |

Auto-MADI-c

Austin excellent in relief, both Madison's step up in comeback win.

IRVINE, Calif. — For the second-consecutive game Biola Softball found itself backs against the wall staring down a one-run deficit heading into its final at-bats. And, for the second day in a row, the team had enough resolve to come back and find a way to win.

"There's always things we need to work on but I am really happy Biola knows how to win now," said Head Coach Kristin Halte. "We're figuring out a way to win every game. It's not pretty, but we're figuring it out."

Three first-inning runs nearly doomed the No. 3 Eagles in a matchup with unranked San Francisco State, but a leadoff triple from Maddie Riley allowed Biola to tie it at three in the seventh and eventually win 6-4 in extra innings. 

"It's hard to teach people to fight. That's the great thing about this team, we know how to win," said Halte. "You have to be proud that this team does not just roll over and die."

The Gators got out to the early advantage by putting up a three-spot in the bottom of the first inning despite only getting one ball hit outside of the infield. The 3-0 lead forced Head Coach Kristin Halte to relieve starter Raylene Roybal of her pitching duties just one out into the game and turn to Paige Austin.

Austin would go on to throw eight and two-thirds innings without allowing an earned run. She'd strike out 12 Gators and pick up her third win of the year while throwing the ball 173 times to home plate.

The Riley leadoff triple in the top of the seventh set the stage for the run support Biola desperately needed to provide Austin. With one out in the inning a batted ball from Jennifer Morinishi gave the speedy Riley just enough time to slide into home plate safe and set the game up for extra time. 

It was an awesome moment for the promising BU sophomore. Riley ended the game 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and an RBI single when Biola scored two in the fourth inning.

"She is in this lineup for a reason. She has that potential," said Halte. "That is why I let her hit in that situation. It was such a clutch hit. She's been working really hard. Her opportunity came and that work paid off."

The tournament game went straight to the international tiebreaker protocol in the eighth inning with the score tied at three. Biola capitalized on the free base runner after a Roybal single moved pinch-runner Loren Meza over to third base and then she scooted home on a fielder's choice off the bat of Madison Blossey.

Biola seemed to be on its way to the 4-3 win as Austin had two outs and two strikes on San Francisco State's Lehua DeLeon in the bottom half of the eight. DeLeon, though, would hit a weak groundball down the first base line that stayed low under the glove of Abie Nowak and allowed the free runner to score from third and tie the game at four to force another extra frame.

In their half of the ninth inning Biola managed to strike right away as a successful sacrifice bunt moved Maddie Riley to third base and an Allie Beck walk gave the Eagles runners on the corners with one out.

A wild pitch and error by the catcher on the follow-up throw allowed Biola to score both Riley and Beck and advance to the 6-4 advantage.

That'd be all they'd get, but also all they'd need as Austin locked it down in the bottom of the ninth and allowed Biola to breathe easy after three hours and eight minutes of excruciatingly nerve-wracking game time.

"It's great to have someone you can rely on to bail you out of those situations," said Halte about her ace. "Paige has done a phenomenal job and we can't ask for anything better. I think this is her best start to a season in all the years I've seen her. She's really locked in and is a leader on and off the field."

Biola finished with eight hits to SFSU's seven, while the Eagles were able to overcome three fielding errors in this one. The Eagles' other Madison, Madison Blossey, led the effort with a pair of RBI. 

The win allowed Biola to improve to 3-1 on the season while SFSU dropped to 1-2. Austin improved to a perfect 3-0 and upped her season strikeout total to 42. Up next for Biola is their final game of the CUI Kick-Off Classic. It's a scheduled 2 p.m. start against Sonoma State (1-1).
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