AZUSA, Calif. --- Nate Coronado continued his impressive freshman campaign, allowing just three runs over six innings to help Biola down No. 8 Azusa Pacific 5-4 in the first game of a GSAC doubleheader on Saturday in Azusa. The Cougars came back to win the nightcap 6-4.

Biola improves to 13-12 on the season and to 7-5 in GSAC play while Azusa Pacific moves to 22-4 and 12-4 in the conference.

The first-game win snapped a five-game losing streak to the Cougars at Azusa, the Eagles last win coming during the 2005 season. Biola had also won just once in the last nine times it had played Azusa Pacific overall.

Coronado (3-0) recorded yet another strong start, holding the high-scoring Cougars to just three runs over six innings while striking out three. It was his first start as the Saturday game-one starter and he was impressive. His three earned runs against were the most he had surrendered in a game this season, but the Biola offense helped him out with an early cushion of five runs.

The Eagles put the first runs up on Azusa's shiny new scoreboard with a two-spot in the top of the first. Chris Foreman opened the game with a single to center and advanced to second on a balk. Brent Chavez followed with a walk and the pair moved up 90 feet on a perfectly-executed double steal. Foreman then came around to score on an infield groundout by Nick Rotkowitz and Chavez followed in the same fashion as Hawkins Gebbers grounded out to second.

Biola would get an unearned run in the second to go up 3-0. Foreman reached on the infield error and came around to score on a double to deep left-center field by Chavez.

The Eagles would get another pair in the fourth with two out as Foreman and Chavez again led the Biola rally. Foreman hit a two-out single to right-center and stole second. Chavez followed with an infield single and the two advanced to the next base on an error by the APU third baseman. Rotkowitz then followed with a run-scoring double and the Eagles led comfortably 5-0.

Azusa Pacific picked up its first run of the game in the bottom of the fourth on a solo shot by Ryan Delgado to left center. It was the first baserunner the Cougars had advance past second against Coronado, who had been cruising to that point. As it was, Coronado would allow just two more baserunners over the next two innings as the score remained 6-0 heading into the seventh.

But Coronado ran out of gas in the seventh inning allowing four-straight hits to open the frame. After a leadoff single by Stephen Gillette, catcher Chris Feicht deposited a two-run home run into the housing complex beyond the left-center field fence. Shaun Lane followed with a double down the leftfield line an Eddie Crespo put runners on the corners with an infield single.

Azusa Pacific looked to be in business and set to at least tie the game, but junior reliever Steven Alexander came on in relief and expertly worked out of the jam by striking out the next two batters, intentionally walking APU star Brice Cutspec, then coaxed a flyout by Delgado to end the threat.

The Cougars moved within one in the bottom of the eighth inning as Feicht connected on his second home run in as many at-bats, making it 5-4.

As the teams headed to the ninth, Biola closer Billy Vopinek took to the hill and shut down the top of the Azusa Pacific order with just six pitches to record his eighth save of the season.

In game two, the Cougars jumped all over Biola starter Brian Albert in the first, scoring four runs capped by a two-run double by Feicht. After the shaky start, Albert settled down and held APU off the board for the next three innings while the Eagles worked their way back into the game.

Biola got its first run in the top of the second inning. Vopinek led off the frame with a single up the middle, then moved up to third on a single by David West. Vopinek would come around to score on a wild pitch just a few pitches later. 

The Eagles were able to tie the game in the fifth with a three-run rally. Chad Pace and Foreman led off the inning with back-to-back singles and came around to score on a two-run double by Chavez. One out later, Chavez came around to tie the game on an RBI-single by Hawkins Gebber.

But the lead was short-lived as Titus Lester opened the bottom of the fifth off with a single followed by a two-run home run to left off the bat of Delgado--his second of the afternoon. 

The Eagles had their best chance to tie in the top of the sixth inning as Pace reached on an error with one out and Chavez hit a two out double to put the tying runs in scoring position. But Rotkowitz hit a sharp grounder up the middle which the APU shortstop turned into a good play to end the inning. 

Albert suffered the loss in the game, falling to 1-5 on the season.

In addition to picking up the save in the first game, Vopinek also added five hits in seven at-bats to pace the Biola offense. Chavez added five hits in eight at-bats--three of which were doubles. He also scored three runs and drove in three more.

The Eagles return to action on Wednesday (Mar. 18), hosting Cal State San Marcos in a non-conference game at the Eagles Diamond beginning at 2:00 p.m.