Box Score SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- Westmont scored a run to tie the game in the eighth, then won it with a walk-off double in the 10th as Biola blew a late lead and lost the first game of a three-game GSAC series 3-2 on Friday night at Russ Carr Field in Santa Barbara.
The Eagles' three-game winning-streak comes to an end as they fall to 6-2 on the season and to 2-2 in GSAC play. The Warriors improve to 5-1 and sit alone atop the early-season GSAC standings with a 3-1 record.
The loss spoiled a solid start by Biola freshman Trevor Oaks, who went 6-2/3 innings, scattering seven hits but allowing one run and a pair of strikeouts.
The offense gave him good support early with a pair of runs in the third inning. Paul Slater led off the frame by being hit by a pitch and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Johnny Farrington. Benji Sutherland brought him home with a single to left and move to second on the throw home. After a wild pitch moved him to third and a line out on the infield, Sam Thorne brought him home with a single to right to make it 2-0.
Biola had at least one runner on base in every inning through the eighth, but couldn't muster any more insurance. The Eagles took advantage of some wildness by Westmont starter Torin Shaikh, who loaded the bases with one out by hitting two batters and walking another. But he suddenly found the strike zone and struck out two Eagles to end the threat.
Biola would have just two hits over the final four innings and didn't have a baserunner in either the ninth or 10th innings.
Meanwhile, Oaks was effectively wild, playing with fire in a number of innings. In the fifth, Westmont got on the board as Oaks walked three-straight batters to open the inning. After fielder's choice out at the plate, J.J. Turbin singled home the first run for the Warriors. But Oaks escaped further damage with a double play.
Oaks made it into the seventh, retiring the first two batters before issuing a walk. At that points, Sage Poland came on in relief and kept Biola in front by getting a ground out to end the inning.
But in the eighth, Westmont tied the game with one out as Thomas Hocutt hit a solo home run to right center to make it 2-2.
After a scoreless ninth, the teams headed to extra innings. Biola went 1-2-3 in the top of the 10th. Westmont took advantage, opening the inning with a single by David Gabel. Hocutt failed to advance him with a sacrifice, but it didn't matter as Brandon Gildea collected his fourth hit of the game with a walk-off double to deep left-center field to score pinch-hitter Spencer Ferdun with the winning run.
Hunter Christian worked two perfect innings of relief to earn the win and improve to 1-0 on the season. Javier Martinez allowed his first run of the season and suffered the loss, falling to 0-1.
Michael Annunziata went 3-for-5 in the game to pace the Biola offense while Slater added two hits in three at bats and drew a walk as well. Slater is hitting .444 on the season.
Westmont finished with 11 hits in the game--the most allowed by Biola pitchers all season. The previous high was seven in an 8-3 win over Simpson in the second game of the year.
The two teams close out the three-game series with a double header on Saturday at Westmont. The first game is slated to begin at 11:00 a.m. Freshman Josh Staumont (2-0) and senior Nick Turner (1-0) are expected to get the starts for the Eagles.
