BOX SCORE
SAN MARCOS, Calif. --- It wasn't pretty, but it goes down as a much-needed victory anyway. Nick Dietzen and Danny Morrow led the hit-parade with four hits each to lead Biola to a 23-12 non-conference win over Cal State San Marcos on Monday afternoon at San Marcos High School.
The Eagles (21-13) had been struggling offensively over the last three weeks, but exploded for 23 runs on 18 hits to earn just their third win in their last 11 games. The Cougars fall to 10-17 on the season despite scoring 12 runs and pounding out 15 hits.
It was the second time in just under a week that Biola scored 23 runs in a game, beating The Master's College 23-6 on Mar. 22. The school record of 25 runs was equaled twice the last time coming against Pomona-Pitzer in 1996.
However, the numbers were not all in favor of Biola as the Eagles committed six errors in the game leading to four unearned runs.
While the final score indicated a blowout, the game was very close through the first four inning.
Cal State San Marcos jumped out a quick lead, scoring four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Biola helped as much as possible with three errors but Austin Way and Adam Ricciardulli hit run-scoring doubles.
Biola got three back in the second, opening the frame with four straight singles. Hawkins Gebbers collected the fourth in the series to scored Dietzen, followed by a Daniel Bodemer sacrifice fly to make it 4-2. The Eagles then got a bonus run as an error by the Cougars third baseman allowed Morrow to score.
However, in the bottom of the frame, Cal State San Marcos got two of those runs back on a solo home run by Spencer Pardon and a run-scoring double by Way.
Biola then came storming back with four runs in the top of the third to take its first lead of the game. Matt Smith led the inning off with a deep home run to right field and the Eagles tacked on three more to go up 7-6 after three.
Biola appeared to blow the game open in the top of the fourth with a five-run inning, recording four hits, but capitalizing on wildness by the Cougars' pitchers. But in the bottom of the inning, Cal State San Marcos erupted for six runs on seven hits to tie the score at 12.
However, the Cougars would manage just two more hits over the final five innings while the Eagles continued to pound out the hits.
Biola took the lead back in the top of the fifth with four runs capped by an RBI-double by Smith and a two-run double by Gebbers.
The Eagles added five in the seventh as Dietzen blasted a two-run home run and Morrow hit a solo shot. They would close the game out with two runs in the ninth to cap the scoring.
Biola starter Derek Dietzen struggled, allowing eight runs--four earned--on eight hits over three innings.
Josh Baas picked up the win in relief to improve to 2-4, despite allowing four earned runs on five hits in three innings. It was his first relief appearance of the season after eight starts. After struggling in San Marcos' big inning, he settled down and didn't allow another hit over the next two innings he pitched.
Steven Alexander and Justin Rodriguez pitched strong over the final three innings, allowing just two hits and keeping the Cougars off the scoreboard.
Nick Dietzen finished the day 4-for-5 with a home run, four runs scored and three RBIs. Morrow also had four hits, going 4-for-6 with a home run four runs scored and two driven in. Gebbers went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Cal State San Marcos had 10 different pitchers take the mound during the game with Ian Thompson picking up the loss.
The Eagles, who are currently on a nine-game road trip spanning two weeks, travel up to northern California for a three-game series against Chico State, currently ranked No. 6 in the NCAA Division II rankings. Biola opens the series on Friday (Apr. 6) at 2:00 p.m.
