LA MIRADA, Calif. – For the second straight season, the Concordia University Irvine softball team clinched the PacWest Conference regular season title with a sweep of their cross-town rivals at Biola.

The No. 12 Eagles defeated Biola 3-2 in the first game of the doubleheader before finishing the night with a comfortable 11-2 victory to officially clinch the conference crown.  In the process, CUI extended its winning streak to 13, improved to 42-6 overall and moved to 28-3 in league play.  All 13 wins on CUI's current winning streak have come on the road.

"We've had a lot of crazy wins in conference play," said CUI softball head coach Crystal Rosenthal, who recently earned career victory No. 500 at her alma mater. "I really do love this group and their resiliency. I just think our consistent play and our ability to go up north and win 11 straight (in the Bay Area) is impressive. We're scrappy and I really enjoy coaching this team."

Game One: Concordia 3, Biola 2 (9 innings)

In the opener, the Green and Gold led for the majority of the contest but they needed extra innings to wrap up the win. After a sacrifice fly by McKinsey Thorpe plated Julianna Covarrubias in the second inning, CUI outfielder Sydni Dix smacked a solo homer in the top of the third to put the visitors in front 2-0.

Biola battled back in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game with two outs and force extra innings. But the Green and Gold stayed focused. After a scoreless eighth inning for both squads, shortstop Sarah Kretschmar worked a two-out walk in the top of the ninth.  Thorpe followed with a base knock to put two on the bases for Heather Nonora.  Despite falling behind in the count, CUI's lone senior was able to put the ball in play and reach on an errant throw by the second baseman.  Kretschmar scored on the error to give CUI a 3-2 lead.

Recently named NFCA DII Pitcher of the Week and PacWest Pitcher of the Week Callie Nunes (30-4) took it from there. Nunes went the distance and only allowed two unearned runs in nine innings.  The Modesto, Calif. native leads all DII pitchers with 30 victories this season and ranks in the top ten in the nation in both strikeouts (229) and ERA (0.91).

Eagle Eye: Nunes struck out seven and gave up only five hits and two walks. She threw 133 pitches and worked all nine innings to amazingly notch her 19th complete game of the season.

Game Two: Concordia 11, Biola 2 (6 innings)

CUI wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the nightcap.  After scratching together a couple of runs with one out, an RBI double down the left field line by Erika Morris extended the

CUI lead to 3-0 before the end of the first frame.

In the top of the second, CUI stretched its lead to 4-0 when Dix bounced a RBI single over the first baseman's head. After freshman Megan Massa scored on the play, Biola changed pitchers.

Biola rallied with a pair of runs in the bottom of the second inning to trim CUI's lead to 4-2.

However, the Green and Gold regrouped quickly.  Dix smashed a grand slam in the top of the third inning to stretch the lead to 9-2 and put the game out of reach.  Junior Mackenzie Graham added an exclamation point in the sixth with a solo shot over the wall in left-center.

Morris got the nod on the mound as well and didn't disappoint.  She went six innings and only allowed two runs to improve to 8-2. She caught a come-backer on a grounder up the middle and tossed the ball over to Sydney Sprinkle to cement the win in the bottom of the sixth and the celebration was on.

With the two wins on Thursday night, Concordia clinched the conference title for the second straight season.

"It's awesome to be a part of a team that is so selfless and who loves each other so much no matter what," added Morris.

"I was so proud," said Dix. "Honestly this whole (regular) season has been a grind and this was really big for us. I feel like we always come through even on cheap runs, we're always there, always grinding out every run we can get."

Eagle Eye: Dix was a difference-maker with her grand slam and finished the day with two clutch home runs. A number of Eagles also flashed the leather on defense.  Third baseman Amanda Gjertsen knocked down a handful of hard-hit choppers at the hot corner and made some tough throws across the diamond. Outfielder Lauren Lopez also made a diving grab to rob Biola leadoff hitter Kayla Neff of extra bases in the bottom of the fifth inning.

On Deck:  After completing the regular season with two games against APU, Concordia turns its attention to the playoffs.  The Eagles are projected to make the regional tournament with the time, opponent and location stil TBD as of Tuesday, April 30.  For updates, follow us on Twitter at @cuieagles and check back here online at www.cuieagles.com.

For the full CUI softball schedule, click here.