Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola's offense came out slugging and the pitching was solid as the Eagles cruised to a 15-2 win over Simpson University in its earliest opening day in program history on Wednesday afternoon on Eagles Diamond.
The Eagles (1-0) pounded out 15 hits and scored 15 runs to open the season strong, while the pitching limited the Red Hawks (0-3) to just six hits and two runs with just two hits coming after the fourth inning.
Freshman pitcher Josh Staumont--who comes to Biola from nearby La Habra High School--was strong in his debut, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings while striking out six. Senior Nick Turner came on for the final four innings, allowing a pair of singles in the top of the ninth to earn his first save.
The offense was led by Paul Slater and Michael Annunziata, who each recorded three hits and drove home three runs. Slater was 3-for-6 on the day, scoring a pair of runs while Annunziata went 3-for-4 with three runs scored.
The Red Hawks opened the scoring in the top of the second inning with a one-out double and two-out single to go up 2-0 early.
Biola answered right back in the bottom of the inning with a pair of runs to tie it up. After a walk and a single to open the inning, Annunziata singled to right to bring home the first run. Slater then followed one batter later with a single up the middle to tie the score.
The Eagles broke the tie in the third as Benji Sutherland led off with a double to left, moved to third on a fly by David McNeill and came around to score on a sacrifice fly by newcomer catcher Sam Thorne.
After a 1-2-3 fourth, Biola scored three times to break the game open. Annunziata led off the frame with a double and came home to score on a two-base hit by Slater. Three batters later, Sutherland drew a bases-loaded walk on four pitches to make it 5-2. One batter later, Thorne singled to left to plate another run.
A pair of doubles by Michael Chriss and Luke Klocek drove home runs in the fifth to make the lead 7-2 and Biola erupted for six runs in the sixth.
A single and a walk led off the sixth and James Petrilli reached base on a dropped fly ball in left field. Annunziata singled up the middle to plate two and a walk then re-loaded the bases. Slater singled home another run, then Johnny Farrington walked to drive in another. Klocek capped off the inning with a two-run single to make it a 14-2 game.
Biola would cap the scoring in the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Chriss in the seventh which plated Petrilli, who led of the frame with a double.
Biola's pitchers would shutdown the Red Hawks' bats, not allowing a hit from the fourth through the eighth innings. Two singles to lead off the ninth broke the string, but Turner was able to get two fly outs and a ground out to end the game.
The game was the earliest season-opener in the 53-year history of the Biola baseball program. The previous earliest start was on the 24th of January in 2000.
The Eagles and the Red Hawks close out the two-game series on Thursday, returning to Eagles Diamond at 2:00 p.m.
