IRVINE, Calif.  – The Concordia softball team celebrated their seniors by delivering a 2-1 victory in their first game of the day and earning a split with Biola.
 
Game 1: CUI 2, Biola 1

Senior Shelli Faulk gave the home crowd something to celebrate quickly in the bottom of the second inning. Faulk sent a screamer down the left field line for a two-run double to score fellow seniors Shelby Pfeiler and Kayla Simpson.

In the third inning, graduate student Kayla Rodgers joined the hit party with a liner off the centerfield wall. Rodgers finished 2-for-4 in game one with a pair of singles to go with a deep flyout to the warning track in right field in her first at-bat.

In the circle, freshman Kacie Gossett cruised through the first five innings without allowing a run to cross the plate. Biola did get on the board when Makayla Jordan smacked a solo home run in the top of the sixth. But Gossett was able to work out of the jam without further damage as Kayla Rodgers made a nice catch in foul territory to end the threat.

There were multiple snazzy defensive plays by the CUI position players. Sophomore center fielder Jessica Im made a sweet diving catch in left-center to end the fifth and rob another Biola player of a base hit.

Senior catcher Shelby Pfeiler also had a highlight play in the bottom of the seventh, ripping off her face mask and immediately sticking out her glove to catch a foul pop up. With two outs, Simpson then caught a sizzling line drive deep in right field to end the game and preserve the 2-1 victory.

Gossett improved to 11-1 on the season with the complete game.

Game 2: Biola 13, CUI 5

Caitlyn Campbell hit a solo home run for her team's first hit of the game in the fifth inning. A couple pitches later, Kayla Rodgers smashed a two-run homer to give CUI a 3-2 lead.

However, that momentum was short-lived as Biola responded with a six-run sixth inning that included a RBI single by Jackie Ibarra and then a jaw-dropping grand slam by Kendall Nakano.

Nakano would go yard a second time later in the contest, smacking a three-run home to give her 7 RBI on the day and put this one out of reach.

Biola maintained its three-game lead on Concordia as we come down the stretch of the regular season.

Biola only has four games remaining next week against Menlo, who is towards the bottom of the standings.  CUI faces APU twice and then travels to Academy of Art, for what will surely be an emotional and unusual Senior Day weekend for the Knights, who will be playing their final games as a program.

CLICK HERE for the updated PacWest Conference softball standings

On deck for the Golden Eagles is a Saturday date with Azusa Pacific on the road. That doubleheader will begin at 12 p.m. in Azusa.

CLICK HERE for the full CUI softball schedule

CUI will host the PacWest Conference Tournament starting Wednesday, April 30 as the top four postseason-eligible teams will qualify.

CUI, Biola and APU all seem destined to be three of those teams.  Dominican and Hawai'i Hilo are vying for the fourth spot, since Jessup is not eligible yet for the postseason.