LA MIRADA, Calif. --- The 2009 season got off to an inauspicious start for Biola as the team managed just one run on seven hits in a 2-1 loss to Simpson University in a non-conference game on Thursday afternoon at Eagles Diamond.

The Eagles, ranked No. 4 in the NAIA Preseason poll, had a tough time offensively despite receiving strong pitching from a group of six pitchers. 

The Red Hawks picked up their first win of the season thanks in large part to the pitching of starting pitcher Joshua Weise, who allowed just three infield hits and no runs over six innings while striking out a pair.

Simpson got off to an early start with a run in the third inning, stringing together four hits in the inning capped by an RBI-single by Mark Austad. In the fourth, the Red Hawks would add another run on an RBI single by Shane Battles, who scored the first run in the previous inning.

Meanwhile, Biola was only able to scatter three infield hits through the first six innings, including two in the second. However, with runners at first and second with one out that inning, Weise coaxed a foul popout off the bat of catcher Taylor Loop for the second out and struck out Billy Vopinek to end the threat.

Biola was finally able to get on the board in the seventh, but only after the Red Hawks brought in lefty Joshua Riche. Brent Chavez led off the inning with a single to right. With one out, Vopinek drove a single into the gap in left-center to put runners at second and third. Vinnie Fayad then brought home Chavez with a sacrifice fly but Vopinek was caught trying to advance to third which ended the inning.

Biola had a chance in the ninth as Chad Pace led off the inning with a single, but a double-play quickly ended the threat.

The Eagles return to action next week, traveling to Hawaii for six games in three days. The trip opens with a doubleheader on Monday (Feb. 2) against NCAA Division II Hawaii Pacific University.