FRESNO, Calif--- Biola scored one run in each of the final three innings to rally from a two-run deficit and overtake No. 11 Fresno Pacific, 4-3, on Tuesday afternoon in Fresno.

Biola finishes the regular season with three straight victories over teams ranked in the top-15 in the NAIA to improve to 33-20 overall and 23-13 in GSAC play. Meanwhile, the Sunbirds finish 2009 with 32-16 overall record while 24-12 in GSAC.

With the score tied at 3-3 in the top of the ninth, senior David West came up huge with a triple to lead off the inning. He would come around and score the winning run on a suicide squeeze by senior Chris Foreman.

Senior Billy Vopinek pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his school-record 17th save, breaking the previous record set by John Grijalva in 2005.

Biola starter Derek Dietzen and Fresno Pacific starter Kellyn Shellenberger battled tough against each other, opening the game with a scoreless first.

After Hawkins Gebbers reached on an error to start the second inning, Brent Opdyke and Vopinek singled to load the bases. Gil Banwart then grounded into a double play but scored Gebbers to give the Eagles an early lead.

The Eagles held the lead into the fourth, when Dietzen walked the first three batters of the inning to load the bases with no one out. Fresno Pacific capitalized on the situation, as Josh Jackson recorded an RBI groundout followed by a sacrifice fly from Joey Norwood to give the Sunbirds a 2-1 lead.

Fresno Pacific added a run to start the sixth thanks to a solo home run by Case Rigby, knocking Dietzen out of the game.

Biola's bullpen took over from there. Junor Adam McNaught threw two scoreless innings of relief to open the door for the Biola bats.

The Eagles pulled within one in the seventh as Vopinek walked and Banwart doubled him home.

In the eighth, Brent Chavez singled with out and moved to second on a groundout. Opdyke then reached on an error by the second basemen, scoring Chavez and pulling the game even.

Steven Alexander continued the excellent effort from the Biola bullpen, holding FPU quiet in the eighth.

West, who had been out of the lineup for most of the second half of the season, produced a huge triple to start the ninth. Foreman's suicide squeeze bunt was placed perfectly, allowing West to score the go ahead run.

Vopinek came on for the save in the ninth. He induced a groundout and got a strikeout before issuing a two out walk. A wild pitch put a Sunbird on second but Vopinek forced a groundout to Gebbers to end the game.

Vopinek's path to 17 has been quite astonishing as the Eagle's closer only allowed one earned run the entire season. He also played in the field in the majority of those games, being pinch-hit for in the eighth if needed so he could warm up in the bullpen. 

Dietzen continues to improve after returning in the middle of the season due to Tommy John surgery, keeping Biola within striking distance allowing three runs while last five plus innings.

The Biola bullpen continued to shine in four scoreless innings of relief highlighted by the teams 21st save of the season.

With The Master's College losing at home to Concordia by the score of 20-6, Biola locks up a 3rd place finish in the GSAC.

The Eagles will open up the five team GSAC tournament a week from Tuesday in San Diego at Point Loma, while The Master's College and Azusa Pacific kick off the tournament the day before.