DENVER, Colo. – For the second day in a row, Paige Austin threw a complete-game shutout against one of the top-2 teams in the NFCA National Rankings, as Biola beat No. 1 Augustana 3-0 on Friday in the second round of the NCAA Division II National Championships to be one of just three remaining undefeated teams in the tournament.
 
After beating the No. 2 team in the nation North Georgia on Thursday, 4-0, Austin proved that her second complete-game shutout of this postseason was no fluke by then shutting out the No. 1 team in the nation in Augustana, giving the national defending champion its first loss of the tournament.
 
Kayla Neff not only caught Austin’s second-consecutive shutout, but again provided a key offensive boost to the Eagles’ win. The 2019 PacWest Player of the Year led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to break a scoreless tie for a 1-0 lead.
 
In the first inning, Biola was threatening with runners on the corners and one out with Neff stepping up to the plate. She had come through with a 2-RBI single the day before, but she missed her opportunity early in the game as Ashley Mickschl struck her out and got out of the jam. In her second time at the dish, Neff didn’t let the opportunity on the biggest stage of Division II softball go by again. She blasted a shot over the fence in left-centerfield to put the Eagles on top.
 
In both the fifth and sixth inning, the Vikings got runners in scoring position, but Austin got out of the jam both times. In the fifth inning, Ruth Munoz fielded a grounder and threw to first to end the threat, and in the next inning, Austin helped herself out by catching a infield pop-up to put the Eagles three outs away from the win.
 
Biola added to its lead in a wild seventh inning for some insurance. Brie Nowak got the go-ahead RBI yesterday as a pinch-hitter, but it was Raylene Roybal pinch hitting for Brie Nowak on Friday. Roybal got hit by a pitch and then Kylie Velasco moved her into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Rilee Ruvalcaba got a base hit into rightfield and Roybal advanced from first to third with Ruvalcaba advancing to second base on the throw.
 
Head coach Nikki Udria called for a squeeze bunt with one out and two runners in scoring position, and Madison Blossey at the plate. The decision went better than imagined as Blossey laid a perfect bunt. The Vikings tried to get Roybal at the plate, but she beat the throw for the second run of the day. Then Blossey took advantage of an unalert defense and tried to take second base. The throw to second was off target and Ruvalcaba scored easily. Blossey then advanced to third base to complete the little-league triple to help Biola take a 3-0 lead.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Austin didn’t get a call on two borderline pitches resulting in a leadoff walk. That wasn’t an issue for the Eagles though as the next batter hit a grounder right back to Austin, who threw out the lead runner at second base for the first out. Jennifer Morinishi was camped on the leftfield line with a slasher at the plate, putting her in perfect position to catch a soft line drive in foul territory. Morinishi immediately fired to first base after the catch and doubled up the runner for the final out of the game.
 
Biola is the first team in the tournament to earn two wins. The Eagles will next play at 4 p.m. (Mountain) on Saturday. There are three teams that have not lost yet left in the bracket. The other two are Saint Anselm and West Texas A&M, who are currently playing against each other.