Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Despite taking back the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning, Biola could not hold on as Arizona Christian scored two in the sixth and two in the seventh to take the first game of a three-game GSAC series 6-4 at Eagles Diamond on Saturday.
The Eagles drop to 8-3 on the season and to 4-3 in GSAC play while the Firestorm are now 4-3 both overall and in conference.
Biola's pitchers did well to hold Arizona Christian to just six hits in the game, but allowed seven walks, five wild pitches, and hit two batters.
The Eagles opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first as Nick Oddo brought home Paul Slater with a sacrifice fly to make it 1-0.
The Firestorm got that run back in the third inning. The sequence was an odd one as the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch and stole second. Biola starter Trevor Oaks got back-to-back strikeouts, but the second came on a wild pitch which allowed the runner to go to first. Arizona Christian tried a double-steal, but the runner was thrown out at the plate.
After a walk and another stolen base put runners on second and third with two out, Eddie Aplin recorded the first hit for the Firestorm, bringing home the first run and tying the game at 1-1.
Arizona Christian added another in the fourth on a two-out double by Joel Thys to go up 2-1.
Biola answered back in the fifth with a three-spot. Luke Klocek led off the inning with a double down the left-field line. Benji Sutherland reached on a dropped pop up on the infield and Klocek advanced on a fly out by Oddo. Sam Thorne then brought home the tying run with a double followed by a sacrifice fly by David McNeill. Michael Annunziata came through with a clutch two-out single to make it 4-2 Eagles.
But the Firestorm wasted no time, tying the game in the top of the sixth inning. With one out and a runner at first, a hit batter and wild pitch put runners on second and third with one out. After a walk loaded the bases and chanced Oaks, Sage Poland came on in relief and was greeted with a two-run single to right on the first pitch he threw. Things could have been worse, but Annunziata made a fantastic diving snag of a line drive up the middle with two outs to end the threat.
Biola had a great chance to take back the lead in the bottom of the frame, loading the bases with one out. But Oddo hit back to the box and reliever Jake Dziubczynski started a 1-2-3 double play to end the threat.
Arizona Christian took back the lead in the seventh, scoring two runs without recording a hit. After a leadoff walk, an error on a sacrifice bunt put two on with no one out. A successful sacrifice moved the runners into scoring position, followed by an intentional walk to load the bases. But a walk and a fielder's choice brought home two runners without a hit and the Firestorm had the lead right back.
The Eagles went hitless the rest of the way as Dziubczynski and closer Jordan Bryson combined to shutdown the Biola offense over the final three inning to secure the win.
Poland suffered the loss to fall to 0-1 while Dzuibczynski picked up the win in relief.
Oaks went 5-1/3 innings, allowing four runs on four hits, striking out nine but walking four three, hitting two batters and throwing four wild pitches.
The series will continue on Sunday with a single game at 2:00 p.m. and is expected to conclude with a seven-inning game at 11:00 a.m. on Monday.
