SANTA CLARITA, Calif. --- Biola had a chance to earn at least a share of its first GSAC title in six years, but instead finished the regular season in second place--one game out of first--after splitting its final two games of the year at The Master's College, winning 7-3 in the opener, but falling 3-2 in eight innings in the nightcap.
The Eagles wrap up the regular season with a record of 33-18 and post a 25-11 record in GSAC play. Biola missed a golden opportunity to move into first place as California Baptist split its doubleheader at Point Loma Nazarene. A sweep by the Eagles would have allowed them to share the conference crown. Instead, the Lancers win their second-straight GSAC title and will host the GSAC Tournament next week.
The Mustangs miss the playoffs first time in four seasons, finishing in seventh place in the conference with an overall record of 25-25 and a 16-20 mark in GSAC play.
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In game one, Biola pounded out 12 hits--all singles--and scored seven runs to help starter Bobby O'Neill.
The Eagles opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning, taking advantage of a leadoff error. Brett Opdyke reached on an error by the short stop and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Johnny Farrington. A pair of walks sandwiched around a fielders choice loaded the bases with two out. Drake Fages then drove home two with a single and a bases loaded walk to Brian Loard two batters later made it 3-0.
The Eagles would add one more run in the sixth as Garret Leon led off with a single, was moved to second on a ground out and scored on a single to right by Johnny Farrington.
The run proved to be important as The Master's rallied for three in the bottom of the seventh. O'Neill, who had been solid through six, started to get a little wild with two walks and a wild pitch putting runners at second and third with one out. A sacrifice fly drove home the first run of the game for the Mustangs and a third walk proved to be it for O'Neill.
The Master's was able to take advantage of new pitcher Kyle Atkins as a run-scoring single and an RBI-double made it 4-3 and put runners at second and third with two out. Cameron McVey came on for the long save attempt and after pitching around The Master's best hitter for an unintentional intentional walk, McVey struck out J.T. Adams for the final out.
The Eagles tacked on two runs in the top of the eighth to provide some breathing room as Johnny Farrington squeezed home a run with a bunt and Benji Sutherland drove home the next run with a single to right.
Biola would add one final insurance run in the top of the ninth as Loard hit a bases-loaded sacrifice fly to make it 7-3.
McVey would shut the door in the ninth, recording two strikeouts and ending the game with a caught stealing.
O'Neill allowed just two hits over 6-2/3 innings, but got in trouble with his five walks. He struck out four and allowed just three runs to improve to 3-5 on the season. McVey earned his 12th save.
Game two was a thrilling pitcher's duel between Biola senior Alex Bruekse and The Master's sophomore Andrew Work. Both pitchers threw zeros up on the scoreboard through the first five innings of the seven-inning game.
The Master's finally broke the ice with a run in the bottom of the sixth. After a lead off single and a sacrifice bunt, a relatively routine ball to right was lost in the sun, going for a run scoring double to give the Mustangs a 1-0 lead.The Master's had a chance to add to the lead two batters later but Garrett Leon threw out the runner at home to end the sixth.
Down to their final three outs, the Eagles rallied for two. Loard tripled to open the inning and scored on a single by Leon to tie the score. Two outs moved Leon to third and Benji Sutherland made up for his miscue in the outfield with a single to plate Leon to give Biola a 2-1 lead.
McVey came on in the seventh but was not his normally effective self, likely tired from his 2-1/3 innings of work in game one. After a leadoff walk, he tried to pick off the runner at first, but ended up throwing it down the right field line to move the runner to third. He got a lineout of the next batter, but JT Adams then hit a sacrifice fly to center to tie the game.
Biola went down 1-2-3 in the top of the eighth in a non-traditional way. Johnny Farrington led off the inning by being hit by a pitch, but was picked off first base for the first out. Boone Farrington as walked, but Drake Fages hit into a double play to end the inning.
McVey lasted just one batter in the eighth, walking the leadoff batter. Jonathan Cade came on in relief and retired the first batter he faced on a sacrifice bunt. Bryan Lucas then singled to left to move the runner to third, but Lucas was erased trying to move to second.
With a runner at third and two out, Biola elected to intentionally walk Matt Johnson, who already had two doubles in the game, to face Ryan Shackleford who was just 1-for-9 in the series to that point. However, he came through with a hit when it was needed, hitting a single to left to end the game.
McVey suffered the loss, falling to 2-2 on the season. Brueske, who allowed just one run on six hits over 5-1/3 innings, did not receive a decision despite the solid start.
Biola now heads to the GSAC Tournament with hopes to win the conference tournament title after missing out on the regular season title. Up for grabs is the GSAC's second automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament. The first went to Cal Baptist, but the tournament winner (or runner up if Cal Baptist wins the conference tournament) earns the second berth.
The Eagles are the No. 2 seed in the double-elimination tournament and face No. 5 seed Point Loma Nazarene at Noon on Tuesday. No. 1 California Baptist plays No. 6 Azusa Pacific at 9:00 a.m. with No. 3 Fresno Pacific taking on No. 4 Concordia at 3:00 p.m.
