SAN RAFAEL, Calif.---The Biola softball team battled Dominican through 11 innings in the second game of the day's doubleheader but fell 2–1 at Penguin Field.
The Eagles and Penguins traded scoreless innings through the first seven in a tense pitchers' duel before both teams broke through in the eighth. Kendall Nakano delivered Biola's lone run with an RBI single to right center. Dominican ultimately secured the win in the bottom of the 11th, as the placed runner came around to score on a fielding error.
Both pitching staffs were dominant early. Biola starter DJ Symons retired the side in order in each of the first four innings, while Dominican's Nayellys Torres-Gonzalez matched her through the early frames. Nakano recorded Biola's first hit with a single up the middle in the first inning, but the Eagles were unable to capitalize.
Biola put together its best scoring opportunity in the fifth inning. Jackie Ibarra singled to start the rally, and Kennadie Tsue followed with a base hit to put runners on first and second. After a pitching change, Leilani Salgado reached on a fielder's choice, but the Eagles were unable to push a run across as the threat ended.
After a scoreless seven innings, Biola broke through in the eighth. Lizzie Byer singled and moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from Alexa Medley Sheard before Nakano came through with an RBI single to give the Eagles a 1–0 lead.
Dominican responded in the bottom half of the inning, using a leadoff single and a RBI hit to even the score at 1–1.
The game remained tied through the ninth and tenth innings. Biola had a chance in the 10th with the placed runner advancing to third, but was unable to push the run across. Symons answered in the bottom half, stranding the tying run with key outs to extend the game.
In the 11th, Biola again threatened but left the go-ahead run stranded at third. Dominican capitalized in its half, using a sacrifice bunt and aggressive baserunning before a fielding error allowed the winning run to score.
In the circle, Symons delivered a strong performance, tossing 10.1 innings while allowing just two runs (one earned) on five hits and striking out five.
Biola totaled eight hits in the game, with Nakano leading the way with two hits and an RBI. Ibarra added two hits, while Tsue, Byer, Salgado and Huskey each contributed one.
With the loss, Biola moved to 30–16 overall and 23–5 in PacWest play.
