LA MIRADA, Calif. — Kayla Bousquette and DJ Symons combined to shut out Concordia University Irvine 2–0 at Freedom Field, forcing a winner-take-all Game 2 in the PacWest Championship Series. It's the first time since the PacWest Tournament launched in 2023 that a Game 7 has been necessary to crown a champion.
"We knew going into today that it would be a grind. We believed and had faith we could do it," said Head Coach
Kristin Halte. "It was great energy, our team had great fight and great belief. We put everything we had into this game. I am proud of their relentless attitude."
Bousquette was effective from the start in the circle, retiring the Golden Eagles' first three batters of the game in order, including a called third strike on Jessica Im. She worked around a leadoff double from Veronica Moore in the second inning, striking out Caitlynn Campbell swinging and getting a pair of fly outs to strand the runner at second.
Bousquette continued to cruise through the third and fourth innings, setting down six straight batters in order. Through four innings she had allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out four.
The Eagles, meanwhile, had opportunities early but could not break through. Alexa Medley Sheard singled in the first and third innings, and Biola put runners on the corners with two outs in the second inning with Ariana Banos and Kennadie Tsue reaching, but could not score.
Biola finally broke through in the fifth. Sheard drew a leadoff walk, and after a pitching change, she stole second base. With two outs, Lizzie Byer singled through the right side and Sheard came around to score on a throwing error by the right fielder. Banos later doubled down the right-field line to plate Byer and give the Eagles a 2–0 lead.
Bousquette returned to the circle for the bottom of the fifth but was hit on the shin by a comebacker from Campbell and had to exit the game. She finished with 4.0 innings pitched, two hits, no runs, no walks, and four strikeouts on 48 pitches.
Symons entered in relief and immediately faced a challenge. Campbell had reached on the single, and after a Biola fielding error moved a runner to third with one out, the Golden Eagles had runners on the corners. Symons got a pop out to shortstop and then induced a groundout to third base to escape the jam unscathed.
The sixth inning brought more pressure. Im singled to lead off, Morgan Kneubuhler singled to put runners on first and second, and Moore walked to load the bases with one out. Symons battled back, striking out Campbell swinging on a seven-pitch at-bat and then getting Kaliya Yco to pop up to second base to end the threat.
Concordia made one more push in the seventh. Serena Velez doubled to left center to open the inning, and after a strikeout and a foul out, Im singled to left field to put runners on the corners with two outs. Symons got Audrey Robles to pop up to shortstop to end the game and preserve the shutout.
Symons earned the win, finishing with 3.0 innings pitched, four hits, no runs, one walk, and two strikeouts on 44 pitches.
"Kayla did great for her innings, and then when she got hit in the leg DJ came in and shut it down," said Halte. "It was stressful, but a full team effort."
Banos led Biola at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Sheard went 2-for-3 with a walk, a stolen base, and a run scored. Nakano and Garcia each added a hit. Biola finished with eight hits in the game.
With the victory, Biola improved to 38–20 on the season. The Eagles and Concordia will play a winner-take-all Game 2 at 3 p.m.
