LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola overcame an eight-run deficit in the final two innings, capped by a two-run walk-off home run by Garrett Leon in the bottom ninth as the Eagles beat San Diego Christian 10-8 in game one of the doubleheader on Saturday at Eagles Diamond. The Hawks cruised to a 14-4 win in the nightcap.

Biola wraps up the day with a 17-10 overall record and an 11-4 record in GSAC play. The Eagles are in first-place by one-half game over California Baptist and Fresno Pacific. The Hawks move to 5-16 and to 3-11 GSAC.

The Eagles pitching, which has been the saving grace of the team this season, was not up to the task today, surrendering 22 runs to the Hawks, which boast one of the conferences' best offenses. However, Biola was able to overcome the rough day on the mound in the first game, but not the second.

San Diego Christian took advantage of a few Biola errors to score a run in the second and the fourth. The Hawks added three in the fifth on a three-run homer, then tacked on two in the sixth and one in the seventh to make it an 8-0 game.

Biola had seven hits through six innings, but could not drive anyone in until the seventh. Leon started the inning by reaching on an error. Johnny Farrington then recorded a one-out single to put runners on the corner for his brother Boone. The older brother drove home the pair with a three-run home run to left to get the ball rolling.

Benji Sutherland was then hit by a pitch and Vinnie Fayard helped capitalize with a two-run shot to right to make it an 8-5 game.

The score would remain that way until the bottom of the ninth inning. With one out, Fayard singled up the middle and Mac Sullivan drew a walk, setting the table for Biola's leading home run hitter Drake Fages. The junior quickly tied the game with a three-run shot to left. But Biola wasn't finished. Pinch-hitter Brian Loard then drew a walk and Leon ended the game with a two-run home run to left to give Biola the victory.

Bobby O'Neil picked up the win in relief, shutting down the Hawks for the 2-2/3 innings to allow for the comeback.

Despite the comeback in game one, the Eagles could not replicate the feat in the second game. The Hawks got to Biola starter Nate Coronado early and often. Coronado lasted just 1/3 of an inning, allowing six runs on three hits and walking three in teh early going.

San Diego Christian added two more in the second for the familiar score of 8-0. It looked like Biola might mount another comeback in the bottom of the third, scoring three times. Fages drove home the first run with a double and Brent Opdyke drove in two more with a single. But that would be all Biola could push across in the frame. 

The Hawks got those three runs back in the fourth and added three more in the seventh to take a 14-3 lead. The Eagles managed one run in the bottom of the seventh, but the game would end with Biola on the losing end of a 14-4 decision.

The Eagles open a tough stretch of GSAC games with a four-game series against Vanguard University this week. The Eagles play at Vanguard on Wednesday and Thursday beginning at 3:00 p.m., then wrap up the series in La Mirada on Saturday at Noon.