LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Hawkins Gebbers' grand slam capped a 12-run third inning as Biola rolled to a 13-8 victory over Bethany University in the first game of a non-conference two game series at Eagles Diamond on Monday afternoon.

The Eagles improve to 7-10 on the season and have now won five of their last seven games since opening the season at 2-8. The Bruins drop to 3-7 on the season and have lost four-straight and six of seven against GSAC opponents.

Biola got on the board first with a run in the second when Taylor Loop singled to start the inning and after stealing second, courtesy runner Vinnie Fayard scored on a David West single that was misplayed in center field.

It was in the third that the Eagles really got to the Bruin's starter Matt Rossignal, as Chris Foreman reached on an error to start the inning. Steven Alexander singled, setting up a double steal in which both Foreman and Alexander advanced before Nick Rotkowitz knocked both runners in with a single of his own.

After Hawkins Gebbers was hit by a pitch, the Eagles put on their second successful double steal of the inning to put runners on second and third. Loop proceeded to drive in both runners with a single into left field. Brent Chavez  the kept the hit parade going with a single and West reached on the second Bruin error of the inning to load the bases. Brent Opdyke made Bethany pay by delivering a two-run single up the middle. After the first eight batters in the inning reached safely, the Bruins were able to get a pop up for the first out in the inning. 

But the Eagles were not finished. Foreman picked up an RBI-single, followed by a walk to Alexander to load the bases again. Rotkowitz followed by getting an RBI the hard way, getting hit by the pitch to force in the eighth run of the inning. With the bases still loaded, Gebbers capped the long rally with a grand slam home run. After the dust had settled the Eagles had a 13-0 lead after just three innings of play.

Even though Biola enjoyed a comfortable lead, the game turned out to be far from over. Bethany answered back in the top of the fourth with five runs, though just one ended up being earned. After recording a pair of quick outs, Biola starter Nate Coronado started running into trouble, allowing three-straight hits and the first run of the game for the Bruins. An error on the Eagles which would have ended the inning instead loaded the bases and was followed up by a two-run single by Frank Mascorro. Another error by the Eagles allowed two more runs to score before Coronado was able to work out of the inning.

The Bruins were able to scratch across two more runs in the fifth when a failed pick off at second resulted in two errors as the ball rolled to the center field wall scoring both of Bethany's baserunners.

Biola starter Nate Coronado was the victim of the defense behind him as the Eagles committed four errors while he was on the mound. Although he lasted just 4-2/3  innings, Coronado struck out three and walked one only allowing one earned run despite giving up seven total runs on eight hits.

Bethany would add one more in the sixth, to pull within five, after a single into center by Frank Paletta saw the return throw sail to the backstop for the fifth Biola error of the game.

On the other side, Biola was held in check after the big 12 run inning by reliever John Ballisty who got the Bruins out of the third and did not allow another Eagle run until the bottom of the eighth inning. Andre Agraez drove home run number 14 with an RBI-double  which scored Alexander. Mike Lopez then picked up a clutch, two-out single to plate Agraez to cap the scoring.

The victory tonight proved to be the 1,000th win in Biola baseball's 49-year history. The Eagles, who did not record their 500th win until the 1993 season, have now won 405 games in 12 seasons under the direction of Head Coach John Verhoeven. Biola's all-time record is 1000-989.

The two teams close out the two-game series on Tuesday (Mar. 3) afternoon on Eagles Diamond with first pitch again scheduled for 2:30 p.m.