JOLIET, IL --- Drake Fages singled home the go-ahead run and Mac Sullivan put the game away with a monster home run as Biola defeated the University of Saint Francis 6-2 in game two of the NAIA National Championship Opening Round-Joliet Bracket on Thursday afternoon as Silver Cross Field.

The Eagles, the No. 2 seed in the Joliet Bracket, improve to 37-20 and advance in the winners bracket to face No. 1 Oklahoma Baptist University, which defeated No. 5 Jamestown College (N.D.) 6-2. The two remaining undefeated teams do battle beginning at 3:00 p.m. CT.

Both starters pitched well in the contest, working quickly and not allowing a lot of hits. However, neither fared in the decision.

Biola starter Nick Turner allowed just two runs on seven hits over 7-2/3 innings, striking out four, but leaving in a tie game in the eighth. Kyle Atkins came on to get the final out of the eighth and retired the side in order in the ninth to record his team-best ninth win of the season.

"Turner threw a heck of a ball game as did Atkins," said Head Coach John Verhoeven. "Basically both have done what they have done all year. We got the clutch hitting late in the game from Fages, Sullivan and Loard like we have all year. It seemed like a typical game for us this season with those three guys providing the offense and the pitchers continuing to do what they do."

St. Francis (39-13) starter David Hexdall allowed just two hits through the first six innings and was cruising through the first four. However, he ran into trouble in the fifth. After an error allowed Mac Sullivan to reach to lead things off in the fifth, Brian Loard hit a two-run home run over the short porch in right field to make it 2-0.

The Fighting Saints fought back and got on the board in the top of the sixth. David Schwabe reached with a one-out triple to left-centerfield. After Turner got a strikeout for the second out, Tom Whelan hit a ball up the middle which was snared by the shortstop Johnny Farrington who made a 360-turn and fired to first. However, the throw was just too late and the run came in to score.

St. Francis tied the game in the top of the eighth inning, again scoring with two out. With two out and a runner at second, Schwabe came through again with a single up the middle to score the run and tie the game. After he walked the next batter, Turner was pulled for Atkins who was able to get a routine groundout to end the threat.

Biola then came right back and took the lead in the bottom of the eighth. With two on and one out, St. Joseph elected to remove Hexdall and bring in closer Corey Schultz to face Fages. Fages got the better of the match-up, sending a 1-2 pitch to right center to bring home the go-ahead run. Sullivan broke the game open with a monster shot out of the stadium to left. 

"We have to win these first two games since we really don't have the pitching depth to come out of the losers bracket," said Head Coach John Verhoeven. "To get this first win was huge, to win the second tomorrow would be even bigger."

Fages, Loard and Johnny Farrington each had two hits in the contest to pace Biola's offense.