With only two more conference games left on the schedule, the softball team looks to break their three game losing streak before going into the Golden State Athletic Conference Championship beginning April 30. The Eagles are currently 30-16 overall and 14-8 in conference play and rank third in conference and 20th nationally.
The trouble began for the Eagles on senior day against San Diego Christian College. Although things started off strong with the Eagles trouncing the Royals 8-0, the Royals bounced back to win the second game 6-1, and split the doubleheader for the second time this season.
STRUGGLING TO SCORE
On Tuesday, the Eagles went up against Concordia University, who were on a six game win streak at the time. Last year, the Eagles lost to Concordia in the GSAC Championship finals and lost both games when they played them earlier this season.
The Eagles found themselves down by six runs in the third inning after Concordia scored off of a pitching error and followed it up with a two-run home run. Senior utility player Amanda Lillicrop, a recent addition to the team, put Biola on the board first with the help of freshman right fielder Anjie Amezquita’s single. However, the Eagles struggled to get their players on base back home for the rest of the game and did not score again.
FOUR MORE RUNS
Concordia went on to score two runs in the fifth to extend their lead to 8-1 over the Eagles. Concordia added four more runs in the seventh with an individual run, followed by a three-run home run to set the score at 12-1.
Although the second game of the doubleheader was not as high hitting as the first, Concordia was the only team to score. Both of Concordia’s runs came late in the game, the first one came in the sixth off a single out to Biola’s shortstop. The second run came from a home run from catcher McKenna Kilgore.
A SIMILAR SITUATION
Once the regular season is over, the Eagles will enter the first round of the Golden State Athletic Conference Championships. Biola will likely be playing Arizona Christian University, who the Eagles have defeated every time the teams have seen each other this season.
The Eagles find themselves in a similar situation to their historic season last year. Biola looks to make it to the NAIA Softball World Series Tournament for the second year in a row, but they need five more wins to nab a secure spot. Last season, the Eagles fell short of 35 games by one, but made it to Nationals thanks to their stellar season compared to the rest of the NAIA teams.
The Eagles’ final double header will be against the Vanguard University Lions, who have defeated the Eagles twice earlier this season. The first game will begin at 12 p.m. on April 25 in Costa Mesa, CA.
