After producing only six runs in the last five loses, the women’s softball team crossed home plate 19 times in their two wins over Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
Biola put themselves on the scoreboard in the first inning with a single run. Freshman shortstop Andi Hormel reached first on a walk and was advanced to second on a bunt from her sister, junior outfielder Kasey Hormel. Andi rounded third and reached home when senior catcher Bria Madrid sent the ball into right field for an RBI single.
The Eagles held Embry-Riddle scoreless and expanded their lead in the third when senior third baseman Heather Hall and sophomore first baseman Selina Sherlin hit back-to-back solo home runs. Senior utility player Iliana Morales hit an RBI double later in the inning to give Biola a 4-0 lead.
Andi opened the fourth inning by hitting the first home run for the Eagles. Biola ran away with the lead by scoring two more runs in that inning as well as two runs in the sixth to finish the game 9-0.
Freshman pitcher Kalie Chavez pitched all six innings for the Eagles in her fifth win of the season. Of the 18 batters faced, Chavez only allowed one earned hit and two walks while obtaining three strikeouts.
Biola beat Embry-Riddle onto the scoreboard again in the second game, this time with an explosive second inning. Sherlin opened the inning with a double, followed by a single from freshman utility player Areana Ramos, putting runners on first and third. Freshman Hailey Boyett followed with a single of her own that scored Sherlin. Junior infielder Maranda Galindo pulled off a successful bunt and reached first to make the bases loaded, and Andi capitalized with a two-RBI double. Kasey brought home another runner with a sacrifice fly, and Madrid reached on an error. Biola scored five runs in the inning.
Sherlin hit a leadoff home run to open the third, and Kasey earned another RBI in the fourth with a ground out. Embry-Riddle earned their only two runs of the series in the bottom of the fourth — one off a bunt and the other when Biola attempted to catch the runner stealing second.
Biola closed out the game with another Sherlin home run and a Boyett RBI single, giving them a 10-2 victory.
These two victories give the Eagles a positive season record of 13-12-1. They will finish off their road trip by playing San Diego Christian College on March 15, and then return home for a 16 game homestand.
