BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Junior Danny Morrow hit two home runs and drove in five to lead Biola to a 16-11 slugfest victory over Westmont College on a windy Wednesday afternoon on Eagles Diamond.
The Eagles improve to 23-18 on the season and 15-14 in GSAC play while dropping the Warriors to 5-33 and 3-26 in conference.
Biola hit a total of five homers on the afternoon including three in a five-run third inning, but had to hold on late to earn the win. The Eagles led the game 13-1 heading into the eighth inning, but Westmont scored five in the eighth and five in the ninth to close the gap.
Biola pitcher Derek Dietzen pitched a strong game, allowing just four runs on six hits over 7-2/3 innings, striking out 10 and walking three. Dietzen improves to 6-2 on the season with the victory--his second straight.
The Eagles jumped on the Warriors early, scoring five runs in the third to break up a 1-1 tie. Chris Foreman led the frame off with a solo shot to right field to give Biola the lead again. Three batters later, Hawkins Gebbers belted a long three-run homer down the left field line that barely stayed fair. Morrow then capped the inning with a solo home run to cap the scoring.
After a run in the fifth, Biola batted around for six runs highlighted by a three run blast to left field by Morrow.
Things looked to be going well for the Eagles until Westmont--down to its final four outs--scored five runs in the top of the eighth inning highlighted by a two-run bomb to left centerfield.
Biola scored three runs in the bottom of the frame as Scott Nelson led the inning off with a double and Steven Alexander followed with a two-run home run. For Alexander, a freshman pitcher, it was his first collegiate home run in his second at bat at Biola. Alex Miranda's sacrifice fly scored Jason Gonzalez, who led off iwth a single, giving the Eagles their final run of the game.
Oddly enough, those three runs turned out to be huge insurance runs as Westmont--again with two outs in the inning--scored five runs and had the tying run on deck as a line drive by Phillip Valle was snagged at second to end the game.
It was the third time this season the Eagles were able to pound out 20 or more hits and the 12th time they have scored in double-figures.
Biola closest out the season series with Westmont, traveling to Santa Barbara for the second half of a home-and-home set on Thursday (Apr. 19) at 3:00 p.m.
