On March 1, the Eagles traveled to Point Loma to play a double-dip against No. 13 University of Mobile and Lee University. Biola’s offense sputtered, losing 8-0 to Mobile and 5-0 to Lee. Mobile’s Karla Rodriguez pitched a no-hitter, and Biola could only crack out three hits against Lee.
The hitting woes were carried over on the field. The Biola defense committed eight errors on the day. In result, only six of the 13 runs by Mobile and Lee were earned.
March 3 the Eagles played a doubleheader against Mobile, looking for revenge. However, Mobile gave Biola more of the same, winning game one 6-1 and taking game two 5-2.
Saturday, the women opened up conference play against the No. 2 team in the nation, California Baptist University. The Eagles were fighting an uphill battle all afternoon and dropped both games, 10-3 and 3-0. In game one, Biola came back from an early two-run deficit to take a 3-2 lead in the second inning. The Eagles were able to capitalize on Lancer’s mistakes as Cal Baptist committed two errors and walked two in the inning. Senior third baseman Jacqie Hudson and junior outfielder Kacie Lyding drew bases-loaded walks for the first two runs, and sophomore infielder Krista Johnson later scored on an error.
The Lancers knotted the score at 3-3 in the top of the third. Cal Baptist’s Karina Slauenwhite hit a two-out single to score Nikki Lowe, and the Lancers never looked back. Two time NAIA all-American pitcher Amy Thomas settled in, holding the Eagles scoreless for the final five innings.
In game two of the doubleheader, the Lady Eagles looked to get things going early. Biola mounted a two-out rally in the second inning, stringing together three consecutive singles, but freshman pitcher Erica Moyer was struck out with the bases loaded to end the threat. Cal Baptist’s Melanie Ahumada was lights out after the second inning, allowing only two more Biola hitters to reach base the rest of the game.
Hudson led the Eagles at the plate, going 3-6 on the afternoon.
On the heels of a six-game slide, Biola looked to right the ship on Tuesday in their matchup with No. 10 Vanguard.
Biola was shut out in game one, thanks in part to a 15 strikeout performance from Vanguard’s Jennifer Olvera. Freshman outfielder Lauren Gandy and freshman infielder Sara Smith had two hits apiece, but it was not enough to bring the Eagles out of their slide, as they lost 4-0.
In game two, the Eagles used a stellar pitching performance by freshman pitcher Lyndsie Roberts to lead them to a 1-0 victory. The win snapped a seven-game losing streak dating back to March 1.
Biola struck for their lone run in the fourth inning. Moyer drew a leadoff walk, stole second, and advanced to third on freshman Brianna Lyding’s sacrifice bunt. Sophomore utility player Erin DaSilva then executed a suicide squeeze to perfection, scoring Moyer.
The Lions mounted a charge in their half of the seventh inning, putting runners on second and third base with just one out. However, shortstop Johnson threw out the potential tying run at the plate, and Roberts struck out the final batter to seal the victory for the Eagles.
“We just need to keep up the intensity level,” said Brianna. “We need to get hits with runners in scoring position.” Roberts got the complete game shutout for Biola, giving up just four hits along the way. She improves her record to 3-1 on the year.
Biola is now 7-11 overall and 1-3 in conference play. The women look to improve on their GSAC record as they take on No. 25 Concordia this Saturday.
