The Eagles blew a commanding lead in the first game of a doubleheader against the Simpson University Red Hawks, losing 9-8, then got shut out by a score of 8-0 in game two. The Eagles now own a four-game losing streak after being swept in each of their past two doubleheaders, and have dropped seven of their past nine. Biola’s overall record now stands at 16-13-2 roughly two-thirds of the way through the regular season.
A narrowed lead
In the first contest, sophomore starting pitcher Kaile Chavez got off to a rough start by allowing three runs in the top half of the opening frame. The Eagles’ offense roared back in the following innings, however, putting up one run in the first, two in the second and four in the third. Chavez seemed to settle down from there, keeping Simpson scoreless from then on until Red Hawks’ right fielder Mia Olivera smashed a three-run home run in the fifth to make the score 7-6 Biola.
With the Eagles unable to pad their lead, Chavez entered the seventh looking for three more outs to secure her first complete game of the season. However, Simpson loaded the bases, then took a 9-7 lead on a double and a single. The Eagles narrowed the lead to one in the bottom of the seventh on a solo home run from sophomore right fielder Areana Ramos, but could not do any further damage and ultimately took the loss.
Wave of momentum
Riding the wave of momentum from their comeback in game one, the Red Hawks struck early and often in the second matchup. Junior pitchers Terri Van Dagens and Selina Sherlin each allowed four runs over three innings, although only half of those runs were earned.
Simpson benefitted from some sloppy fielding by the Eagles, including in the top of the first when sophomore shortstop Andi Hormel’s error on what would have been the third out of the inning instead led to an RBI single to start the scoring for the Red Hawks. In the fifth frame, an error by sophomore third baseman Missy Poti, who had changed positions that inning, set the stage for Simpson’s biggest offensive outburst of the game, as Sherlin — who had been playing third base — was tapped for three unearned runs.
The Eagles will look to get back on track on March 31 when they travel to Vanguard University for a doubleheader against the Lions. The first game is set to start at 2 p.m.
