POMONA, Calif. --- Despite a pair of home runs and an early lead, Biola was unable to hang on and dropped a non-conference game to NCAA Division II Cal Poly Pomona 9-3 on Wednesday afternoon in Pomona.

The loss drops the Eagles to 2-8 on the season while the Broncos improve to 5-3 overall.

Biola got off to a quick start in the game thanks to a solo home run by Nick Rotkowitz with two out in the top of the first. The Eagles would add another run in the third. Rotkowitz  reached with a one out single, then stole second base. After an infield out, Chad Pace drove Rotkowitz home with an RBI-single to right which made it 2-0.

Cal Poly Pomona got on the board in the bottom of the third, benefitting from a Biola error as Keith Nyeholt drove home Jeff Ringholm.

Biola starter Bobby O'Neill pitched well through the first four innings, allowing just the unearned run through four. But the Broncos finally got to O'Neill as Nyholt recorded a two-run, two-out double by Nyeholt which gave CPP its first lead of the afternoon.

The Broncos would add two more in the sixth, again benefitting from a Biola error to plate a pair of runs on a two-out, two-run single Marcus Makia. 

Cal Poly Pomona would add four runs in the bottom of the eighth, the capper coming on a three-run home run by Ringholm.

Biola's Taylor Loop collected his first home run with the Eagles to cap the scoring in the top of the ninth inning.

O'Neill finished the day with a respectable pitching line, allowing nine hits and two runs over six innings, walking just one batter while striking out a pair.  

Rotkowitz, who is leading the team with a .441 batting average, went 3-for-4 on the afternoon, scoring two runs and driving in another. Loop recorded a pair of hits in four at-bats.

The Eagles return to GSAC play on Thursday (Feb. 19), traveling to Vanguard for a 2:00 p.m. start.