COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Despite rallying back from separate seven and six-run deficits, Biola was unable to complete a come-from-behind victory, falling 18-16 to Vanguard University in a GSAC shootout on Wednesday afternoon.

The Eagles drop to 16-14 on the season and back to 9-8 in GSAC play while the Lions pick up their fifth-straight victory and improve to 12-13 overall and 8-10 in conference.

The game was an unusual barn-burner, which featured 34 runs on 37 hits, though just six of them were extra-base hits. The teams combined to use 16 pitchers in the see-saw battle which lasted over four hours. 

Biola trailed by scores of 10-3 and 16-10 in the game, both times rallying back to tie the score. However, after tying the score at 16-16 with a pair of runs in the top of the eighth, Vanguard answered back with a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run triple by Eric Krysiak which provided the winning margin.

Vanguard got off to a fast start, scoring six runs in the second inning. The big hit was a two-run single by Jacob Wood which made the score 3-0. The Lions would add two more runs in the bottom of the third inning on a two-run shot by Wood which made it 8-0. 

Biola got three runs back in the top of the fourth as Brent Chavez, Hawkins Gebbers and Taylor Loop opened the frame with three straight singles. After Billy Vopinek was hit by a pitch to lead the bases, David West hit a single to plate the second run and Chad Pace followed with a sacrifice fly for the third.

The Lions picked up a pair of runs in the fourth on a two-out, two-run single by Brett Halstead to stretch the lead to 10-3. 

But Biola was not finished. The Eagles batted around for seven runs on six hits in the top of the fifth inning to tie the game at 10-10. Nick Rotkowitz and Chavez opened the frame with a pair of singles. After two fly outs, Vopinek drove in the first run with a double down the leftfield line. After a walk to West, Pace drove in another run with a single up the middle. Brent Opdyke then followed with a two-run single to left to plate West and Pace. After Foreman reached on a hit to right, the Eagles would add the final two runs on a Vanguard error which tied the game.

Vanguard wasted no time taking the lead back, posting a six-spot in the bottom of the fifth. The Lions got a pair of two-run hits, the first a two-run triple by Michael Anderson and the second a two-run double by Wood to cap the scoring. When the dust settled, Vanguard was back on top 16-10.

Biola came back with four runs in the top of the sixth. The Eagles benefited from three walks and a hit batter and received RBI-singles from West, Foreman and Chavez. Steven Alexander also picked up an RBI for the Eagles with a bases-loaded walk.

After an odd seventh inning which featured no scoring by either side, Biola picked up two runs in the top of the eighth to tie the score. The Eagles opened the inning with three-straight singles, the last an RBI-hit by Foreman. After an infield out, Chavez then drove home the tying run with a single through the leftside. The Lions then loaded the bases with an intentional walk to Gebbers and worked out of the inning with a strikeout and ground out.

Vanguard would take the final lead of the game in the bottom of the eighth off the ninth Biola pitcher of the game, Brian Albert. The senior allowed two hits, a walk and a pair of runs, taking the loss to drop to 2-6 on the season.

Richard Jessup picked up the win in relief for the Lions to improve to 3-3. He allowed just two hits and struck out two over the final 1-2/3 innings. 

Chavez had a banner day for the Eagles, going 4-for-6 with two RBI and two runs scored. Pace went 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a pair of RBIs while West finished the day with three hits in five at-bats, driving in two runs and scoring two more. 

Wood paced the Lions with a 4-for-6 performance, driving in six runs and scoring two. Anderson also collected four hits with three RBIs and three runs scored. 

Oddly enough, the game was the second-highest scoring game in the GSAC on the day. Over in Azusa, the Cougars rallied back for a 19-18 win in 10 innings over The Master's College. Vanguard also matched another GSAC team by scoring 18 runs as Cal Baptist defeated San Diego Christian 18-2. Biola's 16 runs proved to be only the fifth-most runs scored in GSAC games today despite being the most scored by the Eagles this season. 

The Eagles and Lions face off again on Thursday (Mar. 26), this time doing battle in La Mirada. The two teams will start the day at 2:00 p.m., completing a suspended game from the beginning of February before their regularly-scheduled games. In the suspended game, the Lions are leading 6-5 heading into the bottom of the ninth.