RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Playing in its fifth game in four days and completely out of starting pitchers, Biola did its best to win its first GSAC Tournament title. However, red-hot Concordia would have nothing to do with it, cruising to a 14-4 victory on Friday afternoon in Riverside. 

Concordia (35-18), which has won 17 of its last 19 games, cruised through the tournament, going 4-0 including two wins over Biola, and scoring double-digits in three of its four victories. Concordia claims the GSAC's second automatic berth to the NAIA Tournament while Biola will earn an at-large berth when the NAIA Tournament pairings are announced on Sunday.

The NAIA Tournament begins on Thursday, May 12, with the Opening Round Tournament. The winner of each of the nine Opening Round Tournaments advances to NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho, May 27-June 3.

Biola got off to a great start in the game as spot starter Jonathan Cade, who was making his first collegiate start, retired Concordia in order in the top of the first. Biola then came up and immediately was in business with three-straight singles by Benji Sutherland, Michael Andrews and Garrett Leon to load the bases.

Drake Fages then hit a sacrifice fly to drive in his school-record 76th run of the season to make it 1-0. Mac Sullivan followed with a single to drive home Andrews to make it 2-0 and chase Concordia starter Jordan Hartley. Brian Loard followed by reaching on an error which plated the third run of the inning and gave Biola a 3-0 lead after the first.

But that was about it for Biola. Concordia answered back the next inning with four runs to take back the lead for good. Concordia then scored another run in the second without needing a hit as three hit batters and a walk drove home the fifth run for the visitors. 

Biola made things interesting in the bottom of the third as Brent Opdyke singled in a run to close to gap to just one at 5-4. But Concordia would score the next nine runs of the game and celebrate the GSAC Title.

With Biola running short on pitching, Karl Stuck, Justin Rodriguez and Christian Kaiser had to eat up a lot of innings despite not having pitched that much during the regular season. All three did a solid job against the hard-hitting Concordia team. Benji Sutherland came on in the ninth and made his collegiate pitching debut, allowing one run but striking out two.

Drake Fages, who was the tournament's leading hitter, went 0-1 officially though he drove in a run, was walked and was hit by a pitch in the contest. He finished the tournament going 9-for-16 (.563) with six runs scored and seven RBIs.