Box Score
AZUSA, Calif. --- Biola struggled out of the gate, falling behind early and losing in a rout, falling 16-7 at Azusa Pacific University in its GSAC opener on Thursday night.

The Eagles fall to 6-8 on the season and to 0-1 in conference play with the loss, their fifth in the last seven games. The Cougars improve to 8-4 and are 1-0 in the GSAC.

Things got off to a rough start for Biola which surrendered 13 runs in the first three innings including a seven-run second by Azusa Pacific as the Cougars jumped all over Biola starter Jeff Grijalva (1-2).

The Eagles' first run came on a solo home run by Wesley Cottier, which cut the early APU lead to 3-1 in the top of the second.

However, the Cougars responded with seven run in the second and tacked on three more in the third.

Michael Annunziata led off the fourth inning with a solo shot, but that would be it for the Eagles until a late five-run rally in the ninth.

Pinch hitter Michael Lopez got the ball rolling with an RBI single, followed by a two-run double by Mac Sullivan and a two-run home run by Cottier.

Cottier would finish going 2-for-5 with three RBI and two home runs while Vinnie Fayard collected four hits in five at-bats. Dustin Williams contributed a 3-for-4 night for the Eagles, who managed 15 hits in the contest.

Azusa Pacific pounded out 23 hits and scored 16 runs overall, aided by three home runs and seven total extra-base hits. Cougars' starter Jacob Cage (2-1) went eight innings and struck out 11 to earn the win.

The two teams do battle again on Friday afternoon at the Cougar Baseball Complex with first pitch slated for 5:00 p.m.