Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2
PHOENIX --- Biola closed out a three-game series with a doubleheader split at Arizona Christian University on Saturday, falling 9-3 in the opener, but salvaging the trip with a 6-4 win in the nightcap.
The Eagles end the trip with a record of 4-3 while the Firestorm sit at 3-7 after taking two of three in the series.
Vinnie Fayard went 4-for-4 in the second game and Chris Baek again pitched well as Biola picked up the victory to make for a better trip back to LA.
After falling behind early in the contest, Biola rallied with two runs in the third to take a 2-1 lead. With two out, Dustin Williams, who was seeing his first action of the season on Saturday, ripped a single to right. Fayard then drove him home with a double to right-center and came around to score two batters later on an RBI-single by Nick Covyeau.
Arizona Christian would get those two runs back in the bottom of the third with just one hit, but Biola went back on top with a three-spot in the fifth. Mac Sullivan--who reached base in 11 of 12 total plate appearances this weekend--drove home two runs with a single to center. Fayard, who singled ahead of Sullivan, came around to score the third run of the frame on a wild pitch.
The Firestorm would rally for one more in the bottom of the frame, but Biola added a big insurance run in the sixth on an RBI-single by Fayard to score Michael Annunziata.
Despite loading the bases with two out in the bottom of the seventh, Javier Martinez held on to get the save--his second of the season.
Baek would earn the win to improve to 2-0. He was not his best, though, allowing four runs on four hits and walking five. However, he did have six strikeouts in the contest.
Walks proved to be the theme of the weekend as Biola pitchers walked 25 batters in 23 innings pitched over three games. The first game was a classic example with the Eagles' hurlers issuing 11 free passes as they fell 9-3. Seven of Arizona Christian's nine runs in game one reached base either by walk or hit batter with the Firestorm recording just eight hits in the contest.
Arizona Christian scored one in the first after a pair of walks started out the game and a wild throw on a stolen base attempt allowed the first run of the game to cross the plate. The Firestorm added another in the second, then tallied two runs on one hit in the third. ACU then scored one more in each the fifth and sixth to take a 6-0 lead through five.
Biola got on the board in a big way as Sullivan cranked a three-run home run to right field to cut the lead in half at 6-3.
However, in the bottom of the seventh, the Firestorm got those runs back as the Biola bullpen loaded the bases on walks to open the frame and a wild pitch and a double brought them all in to score.
The Eagles had a couple of good chances to score runs, especially in the fifth inning. Biola would load the bases thanks to a pair of walks and a single with no outs. However, a strikeout, line out and ground out ended the threat with no runs coming across.
Jeff Grijalva took the loss with a rather schizophrenic performance, striking out seven, but also walking seven. He allowed four earned on five hits over four innings pitched.
Sullivan had an impressive trip, going 4-for-5 with six walks and one hit by pitch. The one time Arizona Christian was able to get him out without reaching base came in his first at bat of game two when he sent a high drive to the wall in center before it was caught.
The victory in game two gave Biola Head Coach John Verhoeven career win No. 499.
Biola has little time to rest up, returning to action on Monday to host Cal State LA in a make-up from Tuesday's rained-out contest. The game is slated to begin at 2:00 p.m.
