GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Biola University snapped a five-game losing-streak with a 10-9 win over Vanguard University in the first game of a GSAC doubleheader, but fell 5-0 in game two Saturday afternoon in Costa Mesa.
The Eagles fall to 20-13 on the year and 14-12 in the GSAC while Vanguard moves to 18-12 and 15-11 in the conference.
Prior to the start of the doubleheader, the two teams completed a game from February which was suspended due to darkness. Biola was able to score a late run, but ended up falling 8-3.
In game one, the Eagles scored a quick run in the first as Matt Smith singled home Scott Nelson, who reached on a two-out walk.
But the Lions came back with one in the bottom of the first and added two more in the bottom of the second on a two-RBI triple by Tyson Leighton.
However, Biola was able to take back the lead with a five-spot in the fourth inning. The inning started with Biola getting runners at second and third with no-one out thanks to a double by Hawkins Gebbers. But Vanguard's Derek Craddock struck out the next two batters to alleviate some of the threat. after a walk to Tim Wells loaded the bases, Matt McQueen came through with a bases-clearing double. He then scored on a double by Chris Foreman on the very next pitch.
Biola added three more in the fifth thanks to a pair of errors by the Lions, though Vanguard matched that with three of their own in the bottom of the frame to make it 9-7.
The Eagles added a run in the seventh as Danny Morrow reached on an error and scored on a wild pitch.
The Lions added one in the seventh on an RBI-single by Jason Machado and threatened to add more before Biola's Justin Rodriguez came in and struckout Benjamin Linn to end the threat.
Vanguard added another run in the eighth on a sac fly by Keegan Freeman to make it 10-9, but Biola reliever Greg Matson pitched well enough to pick up his second save of the season.
Biola's Jimmy Johnson got the win despite a shaky start. He allowed five earned over five innings, but benefited from the Eagles offense.
However, that offense failed to show up in game two as Biola starter Charlie Gausepohl and Vanguard's Dustin Jones engaged in a great pitchers' dual.
Both pitchers threw up zeros through the first four innings and it looked like Biola would strike first in the fifth. Nick Dietzen led off the inning with a single to right, advanced to second on a ground out by Kris Cook and got to third on a wild pitch. With two outs, David West drew a walk and reached second on a stolen base, but both runners were stranded when Hawkins Gebbers flew out to deep right.
In the sixth, the Eagles again started strong, putting runners at first and second with no one out. However, Bobby Slater, Biola's runner at first, was doubled off first after straying too far off the bag on a fly ball to right.
Vanguard scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the sixth as Keegan Freeman led off with a solo home run to left field. The Lions then loaded the bases with one out, but Gausepohl was able to strike out Nick Vaughn for the second out and had the count at 1-2 before Zach Leighton drove a two-run double to right centerfied. That was followed by a double by pinch-hitter Daniel Black which blew the game open.
Gausepohl suffered the loss and dropped to 1-3 on the season while Jones improved to 5-1 with his three-hit shutout.
Biola's offense has really struggled to come through with the clutch hit in its last seven games, batting just .159 (10-for-59) with runners in scoring position.
Biola returns to action on Monday (Apr. 2), traveling to Cal State San Marcos for a non-conference game at 3:00 p.m.
