Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Freshman
Trevor Oaks overcame a shaky first inning to finish with nine strikeouts in five innings, but didn't factor in the decision as Biola pulled away late to beat Simpson University 8-3 on Thursday afternoon.
The Eagles improve to 2-0 on the season while the Red Hawks fall to 0-4.
Oaks, a freshman from Riverside, sat out last season at Biola after undergoing Tommy John surgery. But he looked stronger than ever after a rocky first inning. In the first, Oaks walked three batters with two coming around to score on a wild pitch and a double play. However, he escaped the frame with a strike out to surrender just two runs coming in on one hit.
After a one-out walk in the second, Oaks struck out back-to-back batters to end the inning. He would go on from that point to strike out six of the next 11 Simpson hitters, leaving the game with a lead.
The Eagles got off to a slow start, not putting a runner on base until a one-out walk in the third inning. Michael Annunziata, who has been red-hot to start the season for the Eagles, drew the walk, then came around to score on a double down the left-field line by Michael Chriss for Biola's first run. After a groundout, Johnny Farrington then drove home Chriss with a single to right to tie the game.
Biola took the lead in the fourth as James Petrilli hit a one-out double to right center, then came around to score on a single by Annunziata.
Oaks left the game in the sixth inning allowing just two runs on two hits over five innings, leaving with a 3-2 lead. However, the Red Hawks would tie the game with a run in the top of the sixth. With one out, a double by Jonathan Ruiz got the ball rolling with Jody Robertson driving him in with a single to tie the game.
A pair of singles loaded the bases with two outs and Jonathan Cade was brought in to face leadoff hitter Joshua Hooley. After falling behind 2-0, Cade fought back and struck Hooley out swinging and end the threat.
Biola broke the tie quickly. Benji Sutherland led off the frame with a walk, then stole second. David McNeill then singled to short to put runners on the corner and Sam Thorne brought home Sutherland with a sacrifice fly to make it 4-3.
The Eagles broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Paul Slater walked to lead off the inning and moved to third one out later on a single by Luke Klocek. Sutherland then brought home the first run with a single up the middle. McNeill walked on four pitches to load the bases and Thorne drove in another run with a single through the left side. Petrilli then followed with a single to right to bring home two more runs and cap the scoring.
Annunziata finished by going 2-for-3 in the game to give him five hits in his first seven at-bats this season. Petrilli added two hits in four at-bats with Throne going 2-for-3 and Klocek adding two hits in four at-bats.
Cade ended up with the win, going 1-1/3 innings and allowing just one hit and no runs. Javier Martinez came on in the eighth and pitched a near-perfect final two innings, walking one batter but striking out three.
Biola returns to action on Wednesday, hosting Bethesda University in its final tune-up before starting GSAC play next Friday against The Master's College.
