LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola's offense erupted for 10 runs on 15 hits and starter Nick Turner struck out eight over seven innings as the Eagles took the first game of the four-game series against arch-rival Azusa Pacific University on Wednesday afternoon.

Biola picks up its fifth win in its last six games and improves to 8-6 on the season, moving to 2-1 in conference play. The Cougars drop to 8-8 and to 1-4 in GSAC competition.

Turner was outstanding on the hill for the Eagles, picking up his first Biola victory by allowing just one run on seven hits over seven innings while striking out eight. He improves to 1-1 on the season but lowers his ERA to 1.84 on the season.

The Eagles' offense helped out Turner with 10 runs on 15 hits with Drake Fages going 3-for-4 and finishing a triple short of the cycle including his ninth home run of the season.

Biola's offense got off to a quick start with four runs in the top of the first inning. Boone Farrington and Benji Sutherland collected singles to open the frame. Vinnie Fayard followed with a single to drive home Farrington with Sutherland coming around to score as well on an APU error. One out later, Fages belted a shot between the palm trees in deep left-center field to make it 4-0.

The Cougars got one back on a solo home run in the fourth only to see Biola answer back with an unearned run in the bottom of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Christopher Neal. 

The Eagles then broke the game open with four more runs in the fifth. Fayard led off with a single followed by a home run by Mac Sullivan off the scoreboard in right-center field. Fages followed with a double and the Eagles would load the bases with one out on a walk and a hit batter. Neal then plated two with a single right up the middle ot make it 9-1.

Biola capped the scoring in the sixth as Sullivan doubled and was driven home by a single by Fages.

Christian Kaiser and Erick Allen teamed up to close out the game for the Eagles, allowing just one hit over the final two innings.

Sullivan finished with two hits in three at-bats, scoring twice and driving in two. Fayard also collected two hits, going 2-for-5 in the game.

Colby Gurney was saddled with the loss for the Cougars, allowing nine runs on 10 hits over five innings, walking three and striking out one. 

The second game of the four-game series takes place on Thursday at 2:00 p.m. and the series concludes with a doubleheader on Saturday at Azusa Pacific.