GAME ONE BOX SCORE | GAME TWO BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. — Senior Jimmy Johnson pitched a gem while the offense roughed up one of the GSAC's best pitchers as Biola won the opening game of a conference doubleheader with a 10-4 win over Point Loma Nazarene on Saturday afternoon on Eagles Diamond.
The Eagles (5-4, 2-3 GSAC) lost the nightcap 6-3 as sloppy defense led to three undearned runs while Mike Reynolds hit a pair of home runs for the Sea Lions (8-4, 3-2 GSAC).
Biola opened the day with another great pitching performance from Johnson (3-0), who allowed four runs on five hits over eight innings while striking out five to remain perfect on the season. The Eagles offense was able to get to Point Loma's ace, Chris Honer (3-1), scoring seven runs on 11 hits in six inning.
Biola struck for three early runs in the first inning as Hawkins Gebbers drove home Chris Foreman with a single, then Brent Chavez drove home two more with a two-out triple down the leftfield line.
Point Loma got one run back in the top of the third on a fielder's choice ground out by Mike Miles, but the Eagles would respond with two more in the bottom of the frame. Gebbers, Kris Cook and David West opened the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles to score the first run, then Matt McQueen drove home Cook for the second run with a deep sacrifice fly to centerfield.
Biola would plate two more runs in the sixth on a two-out, two-RBI double by Cook. But the Sea Lions would make things interesting with a three-spot in the top of the seventh inning. Johnson seemed to be tiring a bit in the frame, allowing a lead-off single to Andy Reilly and a one-out walk to Tyler Kuehl. Jesse Gill then drove home the two baserunners with a double to the left-centerfield gap, then scored on an RBI-ground out by Kaohi Downing.
The Eagles would score a trio of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning, capitolizing on a pair of Sea Lion errors. Steven Alexander then came in and shut the door in the ninth to give the Eagles a 10-4 victory.
In the nightcap, Point Loma struck first with a run in the first on a double-steal, then added two more in the second on a two-RBI single by Reilly.
PLNU starter Andrew Bovich was cruising through the first two innings until the Eagles scored three in the bottom of the third to tie the game. Alexander, who was playing third base for Biola in the game, kicked things off with a double. With one out, West walked, then both scored on a double by Foreman. The senior centerfield then came around to tie the contest on a single by Nick Rotkowitz.
Biola starter Charlie Gausepohl was replaced in the fifth inning after giving up three runs–just one of which was earned–on four hits over four innings. Senior Josh Baas came in and was greeted by a one-out home run by Mike Reynolds which gave the Sea Lions the lead back at 4-3.
Point Loma would add another in the sixth as Drew Bernhard reached on an error, then came around to score on a double by Kaohi Downing. The Sea Lions added an insurance run in the seventh on Reynold's second homer in as many at bats.
Baas (0-1) took the tough loss while Bovich (2-1) picked up the victory, allowing just three runs on seven hits over 5-2/3 innings. Robbie Naegele came on to earn the save, his first of the season.
Gebbers finished day with five hits in nine at-bats, including a 4-for-5 performance in game one where he drove in two and scored four runs for the Eagles.
The Eagles return to the diamond on Monday (Feb. 18) for the first game of a two-game series against Bethany University. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
