Box Score
HAYWARD, Calif. — Early offense and steady defense carried Biola to a 3-2 victory Saturday, capping off a perfect 3-0 run through the NCAA Division II Softball West Regional and clinching a spot in next week's Super Regional round. The Eagles are now one of just 16 teams remaining in the hunt for a national championship.

"We knew East Bay was a great team that was well coached," said Head Coach Kristin Halte. "We knew it was going to be a fight today. We had a game plan going in and it was well executed today. I am proud of my team. Ultimately, we have to thank God for the opportunity we were given today and for this victory."

After winning the pregame coin flip, Biola once again batted last as the home team. Kayla Bousquette got the start in the circle and immediately set the tone, retiring the side in order on three straight groundouts.

Just like she has all season, Jackie Ibarra sparked the offense in the bottom of the first. She reached on an infield single, advanced on a sacrifice bunt and moved to third after she and Kendall Nakano each took an extra base on a wild pitch. A four-pitch walk to Lillianna Garcia loaded the bases for Friday's hero, Mikala Huskey.

Huskey worked the count to 3-1 before ripping a double into left field to drive in two runs and give Biola an early lead.

That would be the only scoring for several innings as both Bousquette and the East Bay bullpen settled in. Bousquette was dominant early, holding the Pioneers without a hit until there were two outs in the third inning. East Bay managed a single, but Biola erased any threat by getting the lead runner at second to end the frame.

The Eagles put runners on in both the second and third innings but could not add to their 2-0 advantage.

Things became tense in the top of the fourth when two singles and a walk loaded the bases with one out against Bousquette. A hit-by-pitch brought home one run, and a walk forced in another to tie the game at 2-2. Still, East Bay had the bases loaded with only one out and a chance to seize momentum.

Instead, Bousquette delivered the biggest sequence of the game to that point.

The senior starter dug deep and struck out the Pioneers' leadoff hitter before snagging a line drive back through the middle to end the inning and escape further damage.
As they had all postseason, the Eagles answered immediately.

"My team had my back," said Bousquette. "I knew that getting out of that inning was really crucial for us. All glory to God for that catch. I was reciting Bible verses to myself for the whole game, so immediately after the catch I knew that was all Him."

Kennadie Tsue ignited the bottom of the fourth with a one-out triple, and Leilani Salgado followed with a clutch RBI double to put Biola back in front 3-2. After recording two hits and scoring twice Friday, Salgado once again delivered one of the game's biggest swings.

"I am proud of the bottom half of our lineup for really stepping up today and pushing across that third run," Halte said.

Biola still needed nine more defensive outs to secure the regional title, and East Bay continued to apply pressure. The Pioneers put two runners aboard in the fifth, but Bousquette again worked out of trouble, inducing another sharp liner back to the circle for the inning's final out.

The Eagles' offense went quietly in the fifth and sixth innings, but the pitching staff and defense never lost control of the game.

DJ Symons entered in relief with one out in the sixth and calmly recorded the final two outs of the inning, finishing it with a flyout to center field.

"This team is amazing," Symons said. "We knew we could do it coming in. We all believe in each other and know how to rely on God and it really shows."

The pressure only intensified in the seventh with the Super Regional berth three outs away, but Symons never wavered. She struck out East Bay's cleanup and fifth-place hitters back-to-back before inducing another flyout to center field to end the game and begin the celebration around the pitcher's circle.

Biola advances to its first NCAA Division II Super Regional. They will play hosts and No. 1 seeded Cal State San Marcos next Thursday and Friday in a best-of-3 series. Its the third time Cal San Marcos will host the Super Regional round. The Cougars have now played in the super regional round four of the past five years. They won and advanced to the NCAA Division II Softball finals back in 2023. Biola won a modified regional round in 2021, advancing to the NCAA Division II Softball finals that season. 

"With the Lord on our side, I know we can continue to push through all the great games and all the tough games," said Bousquette.