LA MIRADA, Calif. --- No. 7 Biola rallied with six runs over the final two innings, but ultimately could not overcome a seven-run eighth by No. 8 California Baptist, falling 10-6 in the first game of a four-game GSAC series on Wednesday.
The loss drops the Eagles to 23-12 on the season and into a virtual first-place tie with the Lancers with a 17-6 GSAC record. California Baptist improves to 31-9 overall and holds an 18-7 conference mark.
Biola starter Kyle Atkins did a fantastic job in just his second start of the season, allowing just one earned run on eight hits over six innings of work. However, the Eagles could not get much going against one of the GSAC's top pitchers in Taylor Siemens.
The Lancers opened the scoring with an unearned run in the top of the first. With runners at first and third and two out an errant throw on an attempted steal of second allowed the first run of the game to score.
In the third, the Lancers again benefited from a Biola miscue in the third as a misplayed ball in left allowed a run to score and make it 2-0.
Biola had a pair of chances in the second and in the third innings. The Eagles loaded the bases with two out, but couldn't push across a run. They would put two on with no out in the third and again come away empty.
After a leadoff home run in the fourth by Kevin Odem put Cal Baptist up 3-0, the scoring seemed to slow a bit until the eighth.
The Lancers then blew the game wide open in the eighth, scoring seven runs to take a commanding 10-0 lead. Brian Sharp had the big blow in the inning with a three-run home run to left field.
Biola managed to rally in the final two innings. In the eighth, Garrett Leon connected on his second home run of the season, a two-run shot to left to make it 10-2. The Eagles then came up with four runs in the bottom of the ninth to make the final score more respectable.
Michael Andrews started the scoring with an RBI-single followed by a hit off the bat of Vinnie Fayard. Drake Fages drove in another run with a single to right and an error by the Lancers opened the door for two more runs to score. But Cal Baptist got a final strikeout to end the game.
Fayard finished the game going 3-for-5 and sciring twice while Leon collected two hits in five at bats and drove in a pair of runs. Andrews and Fages also went 2-for-5 in the contest.
Atkins suffered the loss, dropping to 3-3 on the season. Siemens picked up the win to improve to 8-1 overall.
The two teams meet again in La Mirada on Thursday in the second game of the four-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. The series concludes on Saturday with a doubleheader at Cal Baptist beginning at Noon.
