Biola battled well against No. 3 Point Loma Nazarene in a GSAC doubleheader on Saturday, but ultimately fell a run shy in each game of the twinbill by scores of 3-2 and 4-3.
Biola battled with one of the best teams in the NAIA, and kept the game close all the way through. The first game remained scoreless through the first four innings before Point Loma finally broke the deadlock with a run in the fifth inning as Melissa Gomez singled home Janel Guadagno.
Biola would strike back in the sixth driving in two runs of their own. Jillian Albert started off the inning by beating out an infield grounder, then was moved over to second by Sara Smith. Lauren Gandy grounded out but it resulted in Albert scooting over to third. She would score on an error by Point Loma. With two out and the bases empty, Krista Johnson slapped a double to right center to keep the inning alive. Kacie Lyding then reached on an error which allowed Johnson to come all the way around to give the Eagles the lead.
Point Loma retaliated with a run in the bottom of the inning as Jill Schaefer’s RBI-double scored Alexandra Wilkinson to tie the game up.
The game remained tied going into the bottom of the seventh. Tracy Dean walked and reached second on an infield groundout. On the next play, Tyler Lent hit a rocket to the Biola first baseman who quickly stepped on the bag and then fired it over to second to try and double-up the runner. However, no one was covering the base and the ball rolled all the way to the fence, allowing the winning run to come around and score.
Erica Moyer got pegged with the loss, despite not allowing an earned run or a hit in 1-1/3 inning. She fell to 4-4 overall.
In the second game, Biola bats were silent as they managed just one hit through the first four innings. Meanwhile, the Sea Lions racked up two early runs, scoring once in the second and again in the third.
The Eagles got on the board with style in the fifth as Keena Levert led off the inning by blasting a solo home run to left field.
Point Loma would pick up a pair of runs in the sixth, both via a Biola error which would prove to be costly.
With three outs left Biola did its best to fight back. Levert drew a walk to open the inning and Moyer reached on an error to put two on with no one out. Roberts then followed with a pinch hit single to center and an error by the centerfield allowed Levert to score. The Eagles were storming back, but could not complete the comeback as Gandy lined out to the first baseman with the tying run at third.
Kristin Larson took the loss in the second game, allowing one earned run on five hits over four innings.
The Eagles, ranked No. 20 in the latest NAIA National Poll, drop to 13-14 on the season and to 5-9 in GSAC play. The Sea Lions move to 32-3 overall and stay tied for first in the GSAC with a record of 12-2.
