HAYWARD, Calif. — Ariana Banos doubled to center field to drive in the game-tying run in the seventh inning, scored the game-winning run herself, and then DJ Symons shut the door with a scoreless seventh inning as Biola defeated No. 3 seed Concordia 5–4 at Pioneer Field in the opening round of the NCAA Division II West Regional.
The Eagles built an early 3–0 lead before Concordia clawed back to tie it in their half of the sixth. Biola answered immediately in the seventh, manufacturing two runs to take the lead for good. It was the speed of Mikala Huskey and Banos' high softball IQ and great base running that got it done for BU late.
"I was trying not to think about my previous at-bats, because I knew that had no bearing on what I was going to do next," said Banos. "I just knew I had to get in the box and get it done. I knew Mika was fast enough and I just needed to hit something deep enough to score. It ended up working out in our favor."
Biola wasted no time getting on the board. Alexa Medley Sheard singled to third base to lead off the first, and two batters later, Lillianna Garcia homered down the left-field line for a two-run shot that made it 2–0.
The Eagles tacked on another run in the second. Kennadie Tsue walked and Leilani Salgado reached on a fielder's choice, Jackie Ibarra reached on a fielding error by the Concordia third baseman that loaded the bases. Sheard then singled up the middle to plate Tsue, and the run give the Eagles a critical 3–0 advantage.
Kayla Bousquette kept the Eagles in control through the first three innings, inducing a pair of double plays to strand Concordia baserunners. The Golden Eagles finally broke through in the fourth with a two-run homer of their own to get back within one.
Bousquette settled back in with a scoreless fifth, but Concordia loaded the bases with nobody out in the sixth and Symons was called to come on in relief.
Right away, a 2-strike infield single from CUI drove in a run to tie the game at 3–3. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice, but Banos got the out at the plate to prevent further damage. Symons then struck out a pinch hitter looking for the second out.
Jessica Im singled to the right side to drive in another run and give Concordia a 4–3 lead, but the trail runner was thrown out at home on a heads-up fielding play by Leilani Salgado. This ended the inning with the Eagles trailing by one.
Biola answered right back in the seventh against reliever Kailey Estes. A Huskey single, Banos double and Tsue lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to put BU emphatically back in the driver's seat.
"Aggressive base running works. My entire career I've run the bases aggressively. It's actually my favorite part of the game," said Banos. "Any ball down in the dirt, I was taking three. I am so thankful God gave us the opportunity to play them again. We wanted this so much."
Symons slammed the door in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the side in order with a flyout, a groundout, and a strikeout to close it out. She finished with 2.0 innings of relief, allowing two hits and no runs while striking out two.
Biola finished with nine hits in the game. Sheard led the way going 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Huskey went 3-for-4 with a run scored. Garcia finished 1-for-4 with her two-run home run. Banos went 1-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a run scored, and the sacrifice bunt. Biola will be happy to get the win, but will look to be more efficient tomorrow. The team stranded 10 runners on base in this one.
The Eagles advance in the double-elimination regional and will face No. 7 seed Western Washington on Friday at 10 a.m. Follow the live stream for free at this link. Live stats are available at
this link.
