AZUSA, Calif. –- Azusa Pacific was 2 outs away from perhaps its most significant victory of the season and a monumental momentum swing. However, the Cougars couldn't close out, and the NAIA's No. 18-ranked Biola rallied for 4 runs in the top of the seventh to win game one and then proceeded to sweep a set of down-trodden Cougars, 5-2 and 5-0, in a crucial GSAC doubleheader Saturday afternoon.
The 2 teams entered the day tied for the fourth and final playoff spot for next month's NAIA regional playoffs, and today's victories not only vaulted Biola ahead of Azusa Pacific, they nearly clinched the playoff berth for the Eagles, who now hold a 2-game advantage over Azusa Pacific with 4 games to play.
In the opening game, Azusa Pacific led 2-1 with 1 out in the seventh inning before Kacie Lyding laced a double to the wall in left-center to score Jacquie Hudson from first base and tie the game at 2-2. After pinch hitter Kristin Martin was hit by a 2-strike pitch, Amerra Kesterson followed with a single to right to score Hudson and put Biola up 3-2. The Eagles added 2 more runs on a single and a double to cap a 4-run outburst, giving them an insurmountable advantage.
Azusa Pacific broke a 1-1 tie in the fifth inning when Tami Carter pushed a single into right field, splitting the gloves of the Eagle first- and second-basemen to send pinch runner Bailey Blazek home from second base. The way Cougar pitcher Kris Franks was pitching, it appeared the lead would stand up. Franks retired 11 of 12 Eagles at one point, averted potential disaster in the fifth, and overall was quite sharp before tiring in the seventh.
Biola collected 5 of its 10 hits in the game during that fateful seventh inning.
The Eagles didn't slow down in the nightcap, continuing to roll to open the game. As they did in the first game, Kesterson and Sarah Jensen started the second game with back-to-back hits to score a run and give Biola a quick 1-0 lead. Azusa Pacific's freshman pitcher Camille Hundley settled down and retired 10 straight and 11 of 12. However, she walked Hudson to start the fifth and 2 batters later she came home on Martin's single to center to start another Eagle 4-run outburst.
The Cougars had no answer and were stymied by Emily Gray's pitching. The freshman hurler 2-hit Azusa Pacific over 5 innings of work before giving way to reliever Tatiana Garcia. In the bottom of the seventh, the Cougars got to Garcia, loading the bases with 1 out, however, Biola second baseman Lindsay Nuckolls snared a Lori Shimasaki shot out of the air and then doubled off Courtney Cleaves to end the threat and the game in one fell swoop.
With the sweep, Biola improves to 28-11 overall, 10-10 in the GSAC, while Azusa Pacific falls to 23-20 overall, 8-12 in the GSAC.
