Pitching, defense and timely hitting lifted No. 23 Biola to a GSAC doubleheader sweep of Vanguard University on Saturday at Freedom Field. The Eagles won the first game 1-0 in eight innings and followed up with a 4-2 victory in the second game.
The first game of this doubleheader featured some excellent pitching by both teams. Even though the Lions had a baserunner on in every inning, Biola pitcher Kristin Larson worked her way out of each inning unscathed. Larson pitched a magnificent six scoreless innings. Lyndsie Roberts came on in relief and pitched a flawless seventh inning that would put the game into extra innings.
In the bottom of the eighth, Erica Moyer moved the tiebreaker runner to third on a single up the middle. After an infield groundout put runners on second and third, pinch-hitter Kacie Lyding drove in the winning run, ending the game via a walk-off single, giving the Eagles the 1-0 win. Larson is posting an ERA of 0.64, which is the second lowest in the GSAC this season.
In the second game Biola got on the board first with a pair of runs. Sara Smith reached base on a bunt single, Roberts stepped up and smacked a double moving Smith to third. Krista Johnson then cleared the bases with a double of her own.
Roberts dominated the Vanguard hitters in the second game retiring the first 10 batters in order. She would only give up one hit on the day, but Vanguard got its money’s worth with that hit: a two-run bomb over the fence to tie the score at 2-2.
Biola would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth. Smith was on second and Roberts was on first when Johnson delivered another clutch hit, singling in Smith. Roberts would score on a Vanguard error making the score 4-2 where it would stay. Moyer came in and closed the game earning her first save of the season.
The victory gave Roberts a pair of wins on the day as she improves to 7-4 on the season. She allowed two runs on just one hit over six innings, striking out three.
Biola improves to 12-9 on the season on the heels of their third-straight win and move to 5-5 in GSAC play. The Lions drop to 15-14 overall and to 3-7 in conference action.
