IRVINE, Calif. --- Biola was blown out 13-5 in the opener, then had their second game of the season suspended due to darkness as the nightcap was called with the game tied at 8-8 in the ninth inning during a GSAC doubleheader at Concordia University on Saturday afternoon.

Biola drops to 6-10 after the loss in game one and to 3-4 in GSAC play while Concordia improves to 8-6 and 5-5 in the conference.

The games were sloppy from a defensive standpoint as the teams combined for 13 errors, though Concordia had a very bright moment on defense with a triple play in the second game of the series.

Game one of the doubleheader got off to a see-saw start. Biola struck first with an unearned run in the top of the frame as Brent Chavez reached on an error and Hawkins Gebbers singled him home. But Concordia came back with three in the bottom of the inning, benefiting from an error and a wild pitch to score two of the three.

In the second, Biola pulled back within one on another Concordia error and an RBI-single off the bat of Steven Alexander. Concordia got that run back in its half of the inning on an RBI single by Michael Gonzalez.

Biola took back the lead in the third thanks to three two-out runs. After a walk to Gebbers and a single by Vinnie Fayard, catcher Taylor Loop gave the Eagles a 5-4 lead with a deep home run down the left field line. The lead was short-lived, however, as Concordia again took advantage of a Biola error to score three in the third capped by a three-run shot by Jimmy Mittleberger.

After the Biola was unable to score in the fourth, Concordia began to pull away with five runs, sending 10 batters to the plate and chasing Biola starter Brian Albert (1-3). Concordia would add another run in the seventh inning to cap the scoring.

Albert suffered the loss, lasting just 2-2/3 innings, allowing eight hits, seven runs though just three were earned. Dan Orlick picked up the win despite a rough start to the contest, improving to 3-1 on the season.

In the second game, Biola again struck first with a pair of runs in the top of the first. Brent Chavez collected a one-out single followed by a walk to Nick Rotkowitz to get the ball rolling. After a flyout and another walk to David West, Loop again came through with a two-run single up the middle to make it 2-0.

Concordia again came right back with four runs in the bottom of the first. Biola starter Calen Pennington hit the first batter of the game and allowed back-to-back singles to load the bases with no one out. An infield groundout scored the first run, but after he walked the next batter, he was pulled from the game, going just 1/3 of an inning. The rest of the runs that inning came via a stolen base and an error, giving Concordia a 4-2 lead.

Biola managed to pull within one on another RBI by Loop. Gebbers led of the frame with a double, then reached third on a fly out by West. Loop then followed with an infield groundout to plate Gebbers and making it a 4-3 game.

But again Concordia responded quickly with three runs in the bottom of the frame thanks to a three-run bomb by Mittleberger.

However, Biola wasn't done and scored a pair of runs in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Loop and an RBI groundout by Gil Banwart.

The Eagles had a chance to add more to their tally in the top of the sixth inning, loading the bases with no out. However, Gebbers lined into a triple play, hitting a shot to short where Sam Pavlisick made the catch, stepped on second for the second out, then tossed to first for the rare triple play.

Heading into the final frame, Biola still trailed by two. West led off the frame with a single, then pinch hitter Chad Pace hit a one-out single followed by an RBI single by Banwart to pull Biola within one. The Eagles loaded the bases as Alexander was hit by a pitch with still just one out. Chris Foreman drove in the tying run on a fielders choice and Chavez followed with a sacrifice fly to give Biola the 8-7 lead.

However, for the second-straight game, closer Billy Vopinek suffered a blown save despite the run being unearned. Concordia had the first batter reach on a single and had another reach on an error on the infield which likely would have been a double play. Biola retired the lead runner on a failed sacrifice bunt attempt for the first out of the frame and got an out at second on the next play. But Kyle Smith's pinch-hit single with two out brought home the tying run.

Both teams had chances to end the game in extra innings, but could not cash in. Biola had runners at second and third with one out in the top of the eighth, but could not score. Concordia came back in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff double, but could not get the winning run across.

In the ninth, the Eagles had runners at second and third again with one out, but again could not get the run in as Foreman was thrown out trying to score on a wild pitch. Concordia put runners on first and second with one out in the ninth, but Fayard, working in his third inning, struck out back-to-back batters to end the threat. At that point the game was called due to darkness.

The game will be continued in April when the teams meet at Eagles Diamond in La Mirada. The doubleheader is slated for April 18 beginning at Noon. It is the second game of the season suspended by darkness for Biola. The Eagles earlier game with Vanguard at home was postponed by darkness with the Eagles trailing 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Loop had a fantastic day for Biola, going 3-for-7 with seven RBIs and two runs scored. Alexander also hit well, going 4-for-7, also pitching a scoreless 2/3 of an inning in game two.

Biola returns to action for the start of a two-game, non-conference series against Bethany University on Monday (Mar. 2) and Tuesday (Mar. 3) on Eagles Diamond. Both games begin at 2:30 p.m.