Box Score DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. --- Biola came within one strike of surviving and advancing in the 2012 NAIA National Championship Opening Round, but Southern Poly's Chris Dykes singled throughout he left side on an 0-2 pitch, part of a five-run ninth inning which ended the Eagles' season with a 9-8 loss on Friday afternoon.
Biola's season comes to an end with a 26-29 overall record, while the Hornets improve to 36-24.
The game was all Biola through much of the first eight innings as starting pitcher Chris Baek recovered from a rough first three innings and was dominant through the eighth.
The Eagles' offense tallied six runs through the first two innings to build a sizable lead The offense helped as well as the Eagles scored three in the first and added three more in the second to lead 6-1 after two.
In the first inning, Southern Poly struck first with a run on a one-out double. But Biola got that back and two more in the bottom of the frame. Benji Sutherland and Johnny Farrington once again opened with back-to-back singles and Vinnie Fayard was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Drake Fages then singled to plate the tying run. After a 1-2-3 double play, Nick Covyeau came through in the clutch with a two-run double down the left-field line to make it 3-1.
Biola tacked on three more runs in the second inning with a double parade. With one out, Sutherland got the party started with a double. After a strikeout, Fayard doubled off the left-field fence to make it 4-1, then came around to score on a double to the same spot by Fages. Mac Sullivan brought around Fages with a single through the right-side and Biola led 6-1 after two.
Southern Poly got back into the game quickly in the third with back-to-back singles to lead off the inning followed by a monster home run to left to make it 6-4. A single later in the inning proved to be the final hit for the Hornets for a while as Baek clamped down. He would retire seven-straight batters and did not allow another hit until a one-out, ground-rule double in the eighth.
Meanwhile, Biola just could not seem to put the game away despite numerous chances. In the fifth, Biola put their first two runners on base but could not move them any further. The Eagles would add one run in the sixth as Fayard singled to lead off the inning and Fages followed with a single to center and an error by the center-fielder would allow a the pair to advance. Biola got a run on a wild pitch and had a runner at third with no one out. However, they could not bring the run around and held a precarious 7-4 lead.
The wheels started to come off in the ninth as Baek allowed back-to-back singles to open the ninth. Closer J.T. Mickelson came into the game and issued a four-pitch walk to load the bases and bring the go-ahead run to the plate. After a foul pop out, things went from bad to worse as a hard ground ball was misplayed at second allowing a run to score and the inning to be extended.
Mickelson followed that with another four-pitch walk which brought home another run and made it a 7-6 game. He managed to get the second out of the inning with a big strikeout on a 3-2 pitch. Mickelson was able to quickly jump ahead of Chris Dykes with two quick strikes and had the Biola fans on their feet in anticipation. But Dykes got a hold of a breaking ball and slapped it through the left side to plate two runs and give Southern Poly the lead.
Another single up the middle by the next batter added a big insurance run and gave the Hornets a 9-7 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Biola still managed to rally one last time. With one out, Annunziata singled up the middle and came around to score on a double to left by Wesley Cottier. After a foul pop out, Sutherland came to the plate and worked a walk on a 3-1 pitch to put the go-ahead run at first. However, Farrington worked the count full but would ground out to second to end the game.
Baek did not receive a decision for the second straight game--both of which ended with Biola losing 9-8. Baek ended up allowing six runs--five earned--on nine hits over eight innings, striking out five and walking four. He allowed just one run on four hits over the final four innings he pitched.
Fages and Fayard led the offense for the Eagles, each collecting three hits in their final games with Biola. Sutherland, Annunziata and Cottier each added two hits as Biola pounded out 15 total hits. However, the Eagles also left 12 batters on base in the game.
