SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- Biola received strong pitching and timely hitting to pull off a doubleheader sweep over Westmont on Saturday, winning 5-3 in 12 innings in the opener and beating the Warriors 9-1 in the night cap to sweep the four-game GSAC series.

Biola wraps up the week with a 14-8 record, having won five-straight games and 11 of its last 14 overall. The Eagles also improve to 8-3 in GSAC play, moving within 1-1/2 games of first-place California Baptist University. The Lancers split their four-game series with Azusa Pacific this week.

Westmont drops to 9-14, 2-10 in conference.

Biola received great starts from its starting pitchers in each game. In the first game, Nick Turner allowed two runs over seven innings while striking out two, but did not factor in the decision as the Biola offense could only support him with a pair of runs. Alex Brueske picked up the win in the second game, allowing just one run despite nine hits and three walks in 5-1/3 innings. He would receive plenty of run-support in the victory.

Biola got on the board first in both games, scoring two quick runs in the top of the first inning thanks to wildness from Westmont starter Michael Kwan. With two out and no one on, Kwan walked Garrett Leon and Mac Sullivan. Drake Fages drove in the first of two runs with a double down the left-field line followed by a run-scoring single off the bat of Brent Opdyke.

Kwan lasted just one inning as Chris Plance came on in relief and stimied the Biola bats for the next eight innings. Meanwhile, Westmont worked itself back into the game with a run in the fourth and a run in the sixth, both coming off run-scoring singles by Mitch Petrak. 

The Warriors would break the 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning as JJ Turbin led of the inning with a bunt single and was doubled to third by Jordan Bottenfield. After an infield ground out and an intentional walk, Petrak stepped up and calmly singled home the go-ahead run for his third RBI of the game.

Down to its final out, Biola rallied as pinch-hitter Brian Loard doubled to right-center. Pinch-runner Johnny Farrington then sped around third and scored on a single up the middle by brother Boone Farrington to tie the game.

As the game headed to extra innings, Westmont had the first chance to break through, putting two on with one out in the 10th. Kyle Atkins would get the second out with a strikeout, but loaded the bases by hitting his second batter in the inning. But Atkins worked out of the bases-loaded jam with another strikeout.

In the 12th, Biola broke through. With one out, Boone Farrington singled up the middle, followed by a double by Christopher Neal down the left-field line. A wild pitch scored the go-ahead run and was followed by a sacrifice fly by Mac Sullivan to make it a 5-3 game.

Closer Cameron McVey then retired the side on 10 pitches in the bottom of the inning to give the Eagles the win with his third save of the season.

Kyle Atkins picked up the win in relief to move to 2-2-. He allowed just two hits and struck out four over three innings pitched.

The second game started out a bit shaky for the Eagles as Westmont threatened in the first and second innings while Biola went 1-2-3. However, despite the rough start, Brueske was able to strand the runners with clutch outs until the bats got rolling.

That happened in the third as Neal drove home two with a bases-loaded single to left to open the scoring.

In the fourth, Biola blew the game open with a four-spot. After a pair of walks put two on with one out, Leon drove home the third run with a single to left. Another walk loaded the bases for Johnny Farrington, who knocked one more in with a sacrifice fly to right. Boone Farrington then drove home two more with a single to left to make it 6-0.

Westmont finally broke through in the fifth with a run on a sacrifice fly, but could do no more damage in the game despite putting a runner on in each inning.

Biola worked out of most of the jams with double plays, turning five twin killings total--one in each of the final five innings.

The Eagles would tack on three more runs in the seventh on an RBI-single by Fages, a run-scoring double by Loard and a sacrifice fly by Leon.

Jonathan Cade and Justin Rodriguez pitched the final 1-2/3 innings, scattering two hits to preserve the victory.

Biola returns to action on Monday, hosting Cal State San Marcos in a non-conference game at 2:00 p.m.