LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Kendall Nakano hit a three-run home run in the first inning to set the tone as Biola defeated Hawaii Hilo 7–6 in the opening round of the 2026 PacWest Softball Championships at Freedom Field. It was a come-from-behind effort for BU who scored three sixth-inning runs to overcome a 5-run frame from Hawaii Hilo in the fifth.
"I thought initially we came out strong. Then we had one inning where we really fell apart," said Head Coach Kristin Halte. "We didn't play our best, I'd say. As a coach that's really hard. But at the end of the day a win is a win."
The No. 2-seeded Eagles jumped on Vulcans starter Madison Rabe early with Nakano clearing the bases for a 3–0 lead before Rabe had recorded an out.
The Eagles tacked on a run in the third as Lillianna Garcia doubled down the left-field line and Mikala Huskey eventually brought her home with a sacrifice bunt.
Hawaii Hilo scratched across a run in the top of the third on an unearned run. The Vulcans then broke through with a five-run fourth inning to take a 6–4 lead and take the wind out of the sails of the BU fans.
That wind was restored as Biola answered in the bottom of the sixth to take the lead and clinch the gam. Ariana Banos began the rally when she reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. A Kennadie Tsue single put runners at first and second and then Leilani Salgado moved both runners up with a sacrifice bunt. Alexa Medley Sheard then delivered a two-RBI single to center field that scored Tsue and Banos, tying the game at 6–6. Nakano followed with an RBI game-winning groundout to plate Jackie Ibarra for a 7–6 lead.
"In that situation, I would normally be pretty nervous. But, before my at-bat I was just praying," said Sheard. "I just needed to put it play and score, hopefully at least a run, but God really came through."
Symons worked 3.2 innings in relief, allowing five hits and one earned run while earning the win. She stranded a runner in each of the fifth, sixth, and seventh innings and closed out the game with three consecutive groundouts in the seventh following a leadoff single.
Biola finished with 10 hits in the game. Ibarra went 2-for-4 and Sheard went 2-for-3 to lead the offense, with Sheard driving in two. Byer went 2-for-3 with a triple, and Nakano finished 1-for-4 with a home run and four RBI.
"I am proud of our team for our resilient effort," said Halte. "God has been preparing us for this all season. We've been down, but our team can easily flip a switch."
With the win, Biola improved to 36–19 on the season. The Eagles advance in the winner's bracket and will face No. 1 seed Concordia in the second round. Catch that game at 11 a.m. at Freedom Field. Free live statistics are available at this link. Live video is available at this link.
"It will be a good battle," said Halte. "It's not going to be easy. It's going to be a fight. We're excited and we'll be ready for it."
