BOX SCORE

LA MIRADA, Calif. — Biola University scored 11 runs in the first inning–all with two outs–and cruised to an 11-2 non-conference win over Patten University on Friday afternoon at Eagles Diamond in La Mirada.

The Eagles improve to 16-8 on the season while Patten falls to 3-26.

Junior pitcher Brian Albert allowed just two runs on five hits over seven innings to earn the victory and improve to 3-3 on the season. He got all the support he would need as the Eagles staked him to an 11-run lead after the first.

However, Patten pitcher Jesse Zuber (0-7) had a good chance to work out of the first inning without allowing a run. Nick Rotkowitz got things going with a one-out double followed by a single by Hawkins Gebbers. After a wild pitch moved Gebbers to second, Zuber was able to get a strikeout for the second out of the inning. He then got two quick strikes on David West, but West eventually drew a walk to load the bases.

Brent Chavez then broke the ice with a two-run single to left and Matt McQueen followed with an RBI-single through the leftside. Chad Pace then had the big blow of the inning, driving a three-run home run to left field to put Biola up 6-0.

But the Eagles weren't done in the inning as Daniel Bodemer hit a single to right and Chris Foreman drew a walk. Rotkowitz then drove both of them home with his second double of the inning. After Gebbers was able to reach on an error to keep the inning going, Kris Cook doubled home a pair then scored on a double by West to cap things off.

The Lions scored their lone runs in the fifth inning on an RBI-ground out by Deandre Walker and scored another on a two-out single by Joe Salazar.

Rotkowitz had a strong day for the Eagles, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored. Pace also had a great day with three hits including the three-run bomb in the first inning.

The two teams close out the two-game series on Saturday (Mar. 22) at Noon on Eagles Diamond.