RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- After a slow start, the Biola bats got going at just the right time, scoring four runs over the final three innings to come from behind and beat Point Loma Nazarene 5-3 in the second game of the 2011 Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament on Tuesday at Totman Stadium in Riverside.

The Eagles improve to 34-18 on the season and are the only one of the top three seeds in the tournament to win on day one. Host and top-seed California Baptist University lost 15-7 to No. 6 seed Azusa Pacific University and No. 3 Fresno Pacific University suffered a 14-7 defeat against No. 4 Concordia University.

Biola advances to face No. 4 Concordia in a winner's bracket game on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. Point Loma Nazarene (27-21) drops to the consolation bracket and will battle California Baptist University in a loser-out game at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.

Biola got an impressive start from junior Kevin Ryan, who did not receive a decision despite allowing just three runs--two earned--on eight hits while striking out six. He did struggle early on and gave up all three runs in the first four innings. However, he settled down from there and kept the Eagles in the contest.

That helped Biola overcome a late 3-1 deficit with one in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game at 3-3. Back-to-back run scoring singles with one out in the bottom of the eighth by Drake Fages and Mac Sullivan broke the tie and put Biola on top for good.

Kyle Atkins, who came on to get the final out of the eighth inning, picked up the win in relief to improve to 7-4 on the season, sharing the team lead in wins with Wednesday's expected starter Nick Turner. Cameron McVey allowed a hit but retired the next three batters without issue to earn his 13th save of the season.

Ryan's first pitch of the contest hit PLNU lead-off hitter Allen Boyer, who then moved to second on a single by Tyler Kuehl. With one out, a ground ball to short by Shain Stoner looked to be an inning-ending double play. However, Stoner was called safe at first and Boyer hustled around from second to score the first run.

In the second inning, Rashad Taylor led off with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. He then came around to score on a ground out by Alec Martinez to give the Sea Lions a 2-0 lead.

Biola picked up its first hit of the game in the third inning as Garrett Leon singled through the left side. After he stole second, a deep fly ball to right by Johnny Farrington moved him to third with one out. With two out, he came in to score on a wild pitch to cut the PLNU lead to 2-1.

But the Sea Lions got that run back in the top of the fourth inning. Stoner led off with a single up the middle and was moved to second as Ryan's pick off throw was wide of first. A wild pitch moved him to third and an infield ground out scored him to make it a 3-1 lead.

Biola has having a hard time figuring out pitcher Kelsen Boyer, who allowed just the one hit and three baserunners through the first five innings. The Eagles finally started to get to Boyer the third time through the order.

In the sixth, leadoff hitter Benji Sutherland opened the inning with a single to center which was followed by Michael Andrews being hit by a pitch. A ground out moved the runners to second and third with one out but left first base open with Biola's leading RBI man in Fages. However, the Sea Lions elected to pitch to Fages and he rewarded the decision with an RBI-single through the left side to score Sutherland.

After a quick seventh inning, the Eagles got another gift as Brian Loard opened the inning by reaching on an error. Pinch-hitter David McNeill then moved to second on a wild pitch and to third on a flyout. Garrett Leon then drove home the tying run with a sharp ground ball to first with the only available out being at first.

In the eighth, Point Loma put two on with two out, chasing Ryan. Atkins then came on into the game and got a Edgar Molina to ground out to second to end the threat. 

The Eagles then erupted in the bottom of the eighth, breaking the tie with a two-spot. With one out, Andrews and Boone Farrington recorded back-to-back singles to set the table. Fages then stepped up and singled up the middle to plate Andrews with the go-ahead run. Mac Sullivan followed with another single to center to drive home Farrington with an insurance run. 

McVey then came on in the ninth, allowing a hit to the leadoff batter, but working out of the jam with a groundout, strikeout, and finally a popout for his 13th save.