BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. — Biola scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings, then senior Kris Cook hit a two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the 10th as the Eagles recorded an 11-9 come-from-behind victory over Bethany University in a non-conference game on Monday afternoon.
Biola (6-4 overall) was able to force extra innings with clutch hitting in the ninth as senior Matt McQueen drove in two with a two-out, two-run single to knot the score at nine. In the top of the 10th, sophomore pitcher Steven Alexander struck out the side to keep Bethany off the board. In the bottom of the frame, junior Nick Rotkowitz drew a one-out walk, then with two outs, Cook ended the game by sending a deep blast into rightfield.
The Eagles played catch-up nearly the entire game as Bethany (2-7 overall) starter Nick Renzi settled down after a tough first inning and pitched well through the next seven.
The Bruins opened the game with a pair of runs in the first inning as freshman Jeff Farr struggled in his collegiate debut, allowing the three runners he faced to reach. The first came around to score on a fielder's choice while the second scored on a single by Ryan Allen.
Biola stuck back with four in the bottom of the frame with junior Brent Chavez drawing a bases-loaded walk for the first run followed by a bases-clearing triple by senior Scott Nelson.
In the second, Bethany scored two more on as Doug West drew a walk with the bases loaded followed by an RBI groundout by David McGee. The Bruins would go on to bat around and add three in the third on RBI-singles by Brian McGee and DJ Anthony, chasing Bobby O'Neill, who came in to relieve Farr.
Meanwhile, Renzi continued to cruise despite allowing a runner to reach in every inning but the fifth. After Bethany tacked on an unearned run in the top of the seventh, the Eagles were finally able to score against the junior from nearby Tustin as Foreman led off the bottom of the seventh with a single, stole second and scored on a sacrifice fly by Cook.
Biola would add another run in the eighth as Chavez led off the bottom of the seventh with a triple. He was then driven home on an sacrifice fly by Nelson. Alexander came in to pitch in the top of the ninth and was greeted rudely with a solo home run to deep centerfield by Bryan Beres to make it 9-6, but escaped the inning with no further damage.
Bethany closer Matt Rossignol came in to close out the game in the ninth, but allowed a lead-off double to Alexander, then walked Cook on four straight pitches. Junior David West then drove home Alexander with a single to bring Biola within two. After a wild pitch advanced Cook to third and West to second, Rossignol stepped up and struck out Chavez and Nelson back-to-back. But McQueen managed to come through in the clutch by driving the first pitch he saw through the leftside to tie the score.
The Eagles attempted to win the game in the ninth as Tavish O'Keefe–who pinch ran for McQueen–stole second, but was thrown out trying to score on a single to left by pinch-hitter Chad Pace.
Alexander (1-0) picked up the win, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out five over two innings. The Biola bullpen settled down after the first 2-1/3 innings, as the final four pitchers gave up two runs on five hits over the final 7-2/3 innings to give the Eagles a chance late.
Foreman, who was hitting just .100 coming into the day, went 4-for-6 with a run scored. McQueen also had a good day, finishing 3-for-5 with two RBIs.
The two teams close out the brief two-game series on Tuesday (Feb. 19) at 2:00 p.m. at Eagles Diamond.
