Shame on you for giving up hope or even thinking of hanging your head at the Lady Eagles current 4-8 GSAC standing. It’s no joke that Biola is tied with Vanguard (ranked eighth nationally) for fourth place in the GSAC standings as of April 1. What most people haven’t considered about the softball team’s overall 17-17 record is that the Eagles play in one of the toughest regions in the country.
Out of the seven teams in region (eight if you consider the still new and this year improved, Cal State San Marcos) four of the teams are ranked in the top 20 – in the nation. Aside from the upcoming game against non-conference Cal State San Marcos Saturday, the Eagles have six conference doubleheaders to finish up the second half of the season strong. The top four teams in the GSAC will advance. After sweeping both Concordia and Vanguard Tuesday, Biola certainly still has a chance to make it to playoffs—tied for fourth with the Lions. Realistically, the Eagles need to go at least 9 and 3 through the remainder of their 12 games to make it to the regional tournament.
Over spring break, the Lady Eagles didn’t take any time off, traveling to nearby Orange for a single-day SunWest Tournament against Avila University and NCAA Division III, fourth-ranked St. Thomas (Minn.). The ladies picked up wins from both games after defeating St. Thomas 2-1 in game one and Avila 9-5 in the second.
Following Friday’s big win the Eagles traveled to Tucson the 25 and 26 for a two-day, non-conference invitational in Tucson, Ariz. The ladies received a tough loss Tuesday in game one of doubleheader against Eastern Oregon University, then retaliated shutting them out 7-0 in the second game. Bats came alive in day two of the tournament as the Eagles pounded out 25 runs over two games picking up wins after only five innings against both Taylor University and McPherson College.
“It was a good trip. We started rough, but then we came together and overcame the struggle from the first game and did our jobs the rest of the games,” sophomore outfielder Brittany Bury explained.
Last Saturday, the Eagles wrapped up their spring break play at home splitting a doubleheader against third-ranked Pt. Loma Nazarene. Sophomore Krista Johnson led the pack going 4-for-7 with a home run, a double and 3 RBIs to assist Biola in laying on nine runs against the Sea Lions, the most in a single game all season. The ladies took game one with a spectacular 9-4 before Pt. Loma would retaliate 9-1 in just six innings.
Despite it being spring break, senior third baseman Jacqie Hudson’s hot bat didn’t take any time off. Hudson, who’s been a team leader all season, was named GSAC player of the week last Monday for March 24-30 after helping Biola win four of their last six games batting .478 and collecting 11 hits from 23 at bats. From her 11 hits on the week she racked up two home runs, two doubles, drove in 11 runs and scored seven. Going into the game against Hope International on Tuesday, Hudson led the Eagles batting .398 with 39 hits and 22 RBIs.
“Jacqie has been a huge contributor in the lineup all year long providing consistent offense and getting the job done any way she can,” senior first baseman Sarah Jensen said of her honored teammate. “She is the kind of person you want up when you need a hit or an RBI. She is a big asset in the field and as a leader of our team as well.”
This Tuesday the Eagles split a conference doubleheader against Hope International in Buena Park after being shutout 8-0 in game one of the doubleheader thanks to costly errors in the fourth inning. The ladies retaliated vying to keep their playoff hopes alive, taking game two 5-1. Jensen provided the necessary run support assisting with two runs –scored and two RBIs going 3-for-4 in her at base appearances. Emily Gray would pick up her third straight win, improving to 6-5 this season. While the Eagles and Royals finished the day with identical 17-17 overall records, the conference split remains to keep Hope tied with Concordia for last place in the GSAC.
“Going into the second half of conference we plan to continue to grow and build on everything we have accomplished and learned so far,” Jensen explained. “We don’t have time to dwell on the past or be complacent; we will keep moving forward together as a team laying it all on the line to try to accomplish what we set out to do from the beginning: play with excellence for the glory of God and the hope of being in Alabama at nationals at the end of May.”
The Lady Eagles return to action at home this Saturday (April 5) in a non-conference doubleheader against Cal State San Marcos beginning at noon, followed by just six more conference doubleheaders remaining in the regular season.
