Box Score
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. ---
Vinnie Fayard collected three hits and drove in all three runs as Biola took the first game of a four-game GSAC series against The Master's College by a score of 3-2 in 10 innings on Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles snap a three-game losing streak and improve to 14-16 on the season, moving to 7-6 in GSAC play. The Mustangs drop to 20-10 overall and to 9-7 in the conference.
While Fayard provided the bulk of Biola's offense, Jeff Grivalva and JT Mickelson were outstanding on the hill. Grijalva allowed just two runs--one earned--on four hits over 6-2/3 innings. Mickelson pitched the final 3-1/3 innings, scattering two hits and striking out one to earn the win and improve to 1-3 on the year.
Neither team could get much going through the first six innings of the game, especially Biola, which had at least one baserunner in each of the first six innings but no runs to show for it.
The Mustangs struck first with an unearned run in the sixth inning. The Master's Jonathan Popadics--the No. 9 hitter in the lineup--led off the inning with a walk, then stole second and reached third on a throwing error by the Eagles' catcher. He would score on a wild pitch to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
The Mustangs added another run in the seventh, again taking advantage of a bit of wildness from Grijalva. With one out, he would hit a batter and give up a single to put two on. A wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position and a sacrifice fly brought in the second run. It could have been worse as he would walk another batter before Mickelson came on in relief. He would walk the first batter he faced before striking out Tanner Leighton to end the inning.
Biola finally got on the board in a big way in the top of the eighth as Fayard crushed a two-run home run to left. The Eagles were the benefactor of a fielding error to start out the inning, turning that into an unearned run with Fayard cashing it in with the long ball.
Neither team had much going in the ninth and the teams headed for extra innings tied at 2-2.
Benji Sutherland led off the 10th with a double to left and moved to third on a groundout by Michael Annunziata. Fayard then continued his work with a single to right to bring home the go-ahead run and give Biola a 3-2 lead heading into the bottom of the 10th.
Mickelson then nailed down the win with a 1-2-3 bottom of the 10th to give the Eagles a much-needed victory.
Fayard finished the day going 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBIs. Drake Fages collected two hits in two at-bats, making him 4-for-8 since his return from injury. He has reached base in 9-of-13 plate appearances over that stretch.
The two teams play the second game of the series on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in Santa Clarita, then close out the series with a doubleheader at Biola on Saturday beginning at 12:00 p.m.
