IRVINE, Calif. – Ranked No. 9 in the NFCA Division II weekly rankings, the Concordia University Irvine softball team was eager to get back on the field with Biola.

In the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, CUI showed why it is deserving of that Top 10 recognition.  A dominant pitching performance and three timely doubles by three different hitters proved to be a winning formula for the Green and Gold. 

A strong start in the second game also put CUI (6-3, 2-2 PacWest) on track to sweep the twin bill, but Biola (4-4, 2-2 PacWest) was able to rally to force extra innings and escape with a split.

Game One: CUI 6, Biola 0

Sophomore pitcher Rae Flores settled in quickly on the mound and turned in one of the finest performances of her CUI career.  The left-hander tossed a complete game shutout and limited Biola to only five singles over seven innings of work.  

Flores improved to 2-0 and really showed her dominance by coercing the Red and Black into 15 outs on the ground. In fact, she got all three batters in the sixth to ground out for her second straight 1-2-3 inning of the evening.

"I definitely felt like I settled in as the game continued," said Flores. "My team backed me up on offense and defense and as the game went on they helped me get more comfortable out on the field.  My game plan was to go right at the batters on Biola, because I knew that no matter what type of ball Biola hit my defense was going to be there to back me up."

"Rae was great today and had great command," said CUI head coach Crystal Rosenthal.  "I'm proud of her development. She's worked hard and it showed."

The two Sydneys helped get the CUI offense going in the fourth inning.  Sydney Sprinkle worked her second walk of the afternoon and then made way for pinch-runner Brooke Jackson.  After a productive out for Missy Nemeth moved Jackson into scoring position, Sydni Dix stroked a RBI double to the gap to plate Jackson.

Sprinkle later supplied a two-run double to boost the CUI lead to 3-0 in the fifth inning. She was an absolute problem for Biola at the plate and finished that first game a sizzling 2-for-2 with 3 RBI and two walks.

Sprinkle added a RBI single in the seventh. McKinsey Thorpe also contributed a two-run double to give Flores and the defense some extra breathing room.

Game Two: Biola 3, CUI 2 (8 innings)

The Green and Gold also scored first in the second game but this contest would end up going to extra innings.

In the fourth inning, CUI's Lauren Fairchild reached base on a two-out single. Freshman Rylie Rohr then smacked an 0-2 pitch for a RBI triple to plate Fairchild for the first run of the game.
Moments later, Megan Massa added a RBI single and suddenly it was 2-0 Concordia.

CUI's Callie Nunes and Biola's Paige Austin each put together impressive performances on the mound to keep their squads in it.  Nunes threw 140 pitches and collected seven strikeouts in over seven innings of work. Austin meanwhile threw nearly 170 pitches and was able to work around seven walks.

The visiting Eagles were close to securing the victory in seven frames but Biola squeaked across the game-tying run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh.  A pair of doubles later gave Biola the split in the eighth inning.

"We played well all day, (but) tough game two," added Rosenthal. "Callie was good on the mound but we have to learn how to close games out."

CUI will return to action on Friday, March 19 when the Eagles travel to Azusa Pacific for a doubleheader. The Green and Gold will be back at home to host the Cougars on Saturday, March 20 with a twin billing starting at 12 p.m. at Eagles Field.

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