AZUSA, Calif. --- Biola stayed alive in the 2009 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round with a dominating performance, defeating Purdue University-North Central 16-2 in a run-rule shortened game on Wednesday morning in Azusa.

The Eagles, who improve to 35-23 on the season, pounded out 16 hits including eight doubles and three home runs in the rout. Biola advances in the double-elimination tournament to face host and No. 4 tournament seed in another loser-out game at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday night.

The Panthers (31-24) got off to a quick start with run in the first off Biola starter Mike Frisina. However, that proved to be just a case of nerves as Frisina settled down as the game went on. He went the distance in the game, allowing just eight hits on two runs over seven innings to record the second complete game of the season for Biola. He added five strikeouts to improve to 4-0 on the season.

Biola didn't let the early deficit last too long, erupting for three runs in the bottom of the first and adding three more in the second. The Eagles recorded four doubles in the first inning as Chris Foreman, Nick Rotkowitz, Hawkins Gebbers and # Taylor Loop# hit two-baggers to give Biola the lead.

In the second, Biola would tack on three more runs, one on a wild pitch, one on a PNC error and a final run on an RBI-groundout by Rotkowitz.

The Ealges allowed a run in the top of the third, but quickly got it back in the bottom of the frame on an RBI-single by Daniel Bodemer to make it 7-2.

Biola then broke the game open with a six-run fourth complete with three home runs. With runners at second and third, Gebbers got the ball rolling with a three-run bomb which cleared the housing beyond the leftfield fence. Loop then followed that with a solo shot which careened off the back of the housing in the same areas as Gebbers' shot. Two batters later, Chad Pace capped off the inning with a two-run shot to left-centerfield.

In the fifth, Biola added a pair of run on an RBI-double by Gebbers, which scored Rotkowitz, who led off the inning with a double. Gebbers came around to score on an infield groundout by pinch-hitter Josh Burket.

The Eagles would wrap up the game with a run in the sixth on a PNC error to cap the scoring.

Kevin Scott suffered the loss for the Panthers, allowing five runs on six hits over one-plus inning pitched to fall to 7-3 on the season. 

Gebbers finished the day going 3-for-4 with two doubles, a home run, three runs scored and five RBIs.