Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola rallied to tie the game with a five-run eighth including a grand slam by Michael Annunziata, but a one-out home run by Phill Creecy in the top of the ninth lifted Arizona Christian to a 7-6 win in the final game of a three-game GSAC series on Monday afternoon at Eagles Diamond.

The Eagles fall to 9-4 on the season and to 5-4 in conference play, dropping their first series in GSAC play. The Firestorm improve to 5-4 overall and in GSAC play.

Biola really struggled to open the game and fell behind 6-1 after Arizona Christian scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning. But the Eagles tied the game with a big eighth inning, highlighted by a monster grand slam to right field by Annunziata. The blast made it 6-5 with still no outs. Sage Poland was hit by a pitch to put another run on and was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and to third on a ground out. Paul Slater then came up huge with a single to right to tie the score.

The Eagles kept going as Luke Klocek drew a walk to put Slater in scoring position. Benji Sutherland nearly gave Biola the lead, hitting a slicing ball down the left field line. But Seth Neely came up with the ball on a diving grab to end the inning.

The Firestorm then got the last laugh, though, as Creecy hit a tape-measure shot to left-field on an 0-2 pitch with one out in the ninth to put Arizona Christian back on top.

Biola got a bit of a chance in the ninth as Sam Thorne singled to right with one out for his third hit of the game. But Arizona Christian closer Jordan Bryson got a strikeout and ground out to end the game.

Arizona Christian got on the board first with two in the top of the first on a two-run double by Neely to start the scoring. 

Biola had a golden chance to score in the bottom of the second after Thorne was hit by a pitch and Annunziata doubled to right to put runners at second and third with no one out. But back-to-back strikeouts and a ground out ended the inning with Biola unable to get on the board.

The Firestorm added another run in the third inning as Joel Thys was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 3-0.

Biola got on the board in the sixth inning with one run, but could have had more. Klocek doubled to left to lead off the inning and moved to third on a fly out by Sutherland. Nick Oddo singled to right to bring home Klocek with the first run. Thorne then singled and Annunziata drew a walk to load the bases with one out. But Arizona Christian worked out of the jam with a strikeout and a fly out to end the threat.

The Firestorm added to the lead in the eighth with a sacrifice fly, bases loaded walk and an infield, RBI single to extend the lead to 6-1, setting up the wild finish.

Josh Staumont made the start for Biola and did not factor into the decision. He allowed three runs on seven hits over six innings, striking out eight, but walking two and hitting a batter. After struggling through the first three innings, he allowed just two hits over the final three innings he pitched, adding two strikeouts.

Biola opens a four-game, non-conference series against Azusa Pacific University this week, traveling to Azusa for the first two games on Thursday and Friday--both at 5:00 p.m.--and playing a doubleheader on Saturday at Biola beginning at 11:00 a.m.