LA MIRADA, Calif. — Concordia University Irvine scored three runs in the fifth inning to erase a 3-1 Biola lead. The Golden Eagles added two more in the seventh to beat the host school 6-3 in the PacWest Championships winner's bracket game at Freedom Field.
The Eagles fell into the elimination bracket and will play again at 5 p.m. Wednesday for a chance to advance to the championship series. They would play the winner of the 2 p.m. battle between Jessup and Hawaii Hilo. Concordia secured its spot in the title series and needs just one win to claim the PacWest tournament championship.
"Obviously it was a great game, Concordia is a tough opponent so we knew it was going to be dog fight," stated Head Coach
Kristin Halte. "Our team did a lot better defensively today which we are really proud of."
Biola trailed 1-0 after Concordia pushed across a run in the second inning. A walk and an RBI double to right center put Biola in this early hole.
Head Coach Kristin Halte's team answered with a three-run fourth inning to take the lead. Ariana Banos was hit by a pitch to start the rally. Kennadie Tsue followed with a single to right field, advancing to second on a throwing error by the right fielder which allowed Banos to move to third. A walk to Leilani Salgado loaded the bases, and Concordia was forced to make a pitching change.
Jackie Ibarra greeted the new pitcher with a single to left field, scoring Banos for Biola's first run. Lillianna Garcia delivered the biggest hit of the inning, doubling to right center to drive in two runs and give Biola a 3-1 lead.
This advantage was short-lived. Concordia erupted for three runs in the fifth to retake the lead. A leadoff double, a bunt single, and an RBI double down the left-field line pulled the visitors within one at 2-3. A passed ball allowed the tying run to score, and an RBI single to right field capped the rally and gave Concordia a 4-3 lead.
Bousquette kept the Eagles within striking distance through the sixth, working around a single and a wild pitch. But Concordia added two insurance runs in the seventh, giving Madeline Granados a chance in relief. She got a 5-4-3 double play to end the inning, but Biola went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to end the game.
Biola finished with five hits in the game. Garcia led the way, going 1-for-3 with a double and two RBI. Ibarra went 1-for-4 with an RBI. Sheard, Byer, and Tsue each added one hit.
With the loss, Biola moved to 36–20 on the season. The Eagles will face an elimination game at 5 p.m. at Freedom Field. The Eagles are 3-2 this year against Hawaii Hilo and 4-0 vs. Jessup.
"We've been here before," concluded Halte. "We've been prepared for this moment to be resilient, to fight back so we prepare the same way we have been all season long."
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