GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Hawkins Gebbers was a perfect 7-for-7 at the plate with two doubles and two home runs on the day as Biola split with Patten University, winning 11-1 in game two after dropping game one 9-4, in non-conference baseball action on Monday afternoon at Eagles Diamond.
The Eagles improve to 25-21 on the season while the Lions move to 23-22.
Gebbers, who has been one of Biola's hottest hitters as of late, went 3-for-3 in game one with a double and a run scored. He then followed that with a 4-for-4 performance which included another double, two home runs, three runs scored and four RBIs.
Game two proved to be an offensive onslaught for the Eagles after they were held to just four runs in game one.
Biola scored three times in the first inning to open the game up. Matt Smith drove home Bobby Slater with a two-out, RBI-single for the games first run. Smith then scored on a double by Gebbers for the second tally, then was driven home on a single by Nick Dietzen.
Gebbers drove home the game's fourth run with a solo blast to left field in the third inning to make it 4-0.
After a long bomb to centerfield by Patten's Joseph Jennings in the top of the fourth made it 4-1, Biola answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a pair of Lion errors. Kris Cook drove in two runs with a single to centerfield to make it 6-1, but was thrown out trying to steal second on the next pitch.
Smith followed with a double down the right field line, then Gebbers belted his second home run in as many at bats, blasting a two-run shot again to left field.
The Eagles loaded the bases in the fifth inning with one out, but Cook's sacrifice fly proved to be the only run Biola would get and they ended the frame up 9-1.
In the sixth inning, the Eagles capped the scoring with a pair of runs. Gebbers led off the inning with a single up the middle to wrap up his perfect day. He was replaced by Matt McQueen, who would score later in the inning on a single by pinch-hitter Tim Wells. Nick Dietzen, who followed Gebbers single with a base hit of his own, scored the final run for Biola on a wild pitch.
Freshman Bryan Owen picked up his second win of the year in game two, allowing just one run on three hits over four innings. Justin Rodriguez, Steven Alexander and Greg Matson each pitched a no-hit inning to close out the game.
The first game belonged to Patten pitcher Daniel Silvas (7-3), who allowed four runs on eight hits while striking out six to pick up the win. Silvas has beaten the Eagles twice in the last two years and held them to two runs on four hits but did not receive a decision in Biola's 4-3 win earlier in this season.
Patten struck early with two runs in the first and two in the second to go up 4-0.
Biola came back with two in the bottom of the second to make it 4-2, taking advantage of an error and an RBI single by Cook. After the Lions got one back in the top of the third, Biola scored another pair in the third. Danny Morrow blasted a double to right center to plate Chris Foreman with the inning's first run, then scored on an RBI-single by Dietzen.
However, that was all the Eagles could muster despite having a runner in scoring position in three of the final four innings.
Johnny Hamilton, who was making his first start of the season, allowed three earned on five hits over two innings.
Gebbers wasn't the only Eagle to have a strong day. Dietzen finished with four hits in six at bats, scoring once and driving in two. Cook was 3-for-7 with four RBI on the day.
Biola closes out the home portion of its schedule with a pair of single games against GSAC foe Point Loma Nazarene on Wednesday and Thursday (Apr. 25 and 26). The games start at 3:00 p.m. each day.
