Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola rallied in the eighth inning to tie a wild game but saw No. 13 Concordia answer back with five runs in the top of the ninth to take the first game of a three-game GSAC series 11-6 on Friday afternoon at Eagles Diamond.
Biola drops to 24-19 on the season and falls to 12-16 in GSAC play while Concordia moves to 29-13 and to 18-10 in the conference.
The wild game saw a total of 14 runs scored over the final four innings after Biola held a slim 2-1 lead through the first five. It was a departure from the expected pitcher's duel between two of the GSAC's best.
Biola got the jump on Concordia with a two-out run in the bottom of the first inning as Benji Sutherland doubled to right and Sam Thorne singled to left to make it 1-0 early.
But Concordia answered back with a home run to lead off the second and the score would remain tied until Biola went back on top with a run in the fifth--again with two outs. Thorne singled to left to start the rally and moved to third on a single up the middle by Michael Annunziata. Michael Chriss then doubled to right to bring home Thorne and put Biola up 2-1.
Again, Concordia answered back with a run in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out single to tie things up at 2-2. Biola got the run back in the bottom of the inning thanks to Tanner Swire, who belted a home run to left--the first of his career.
Things got crazy from there as Concordia looked to take control with three runs in the seventh which put the visitors on top 5-3. After holding Biola scoreless in the bottom of the seventh, Concordia would add another run in the eighth to stretch it to a 6-3 lead.
But Biola wasn't finished. Michael Annunziata led off the eighth with a solo home run to left-center. One out later, David McNeill singled to left followed by a walk to Swire and Johnny Farrington was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Slater then tied up the game with a single to right and put the go-ahead run on second. However, a hard hit ball by Vince Lawrence ended up being snared a short and turned into an inning ending double-play.
Concordia would have the last laugh, though, sending nine batter to the plate and scoring five runs to take control of the game. Biola would go 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth.
Nick Turner suffered the loss despite 10 strikeouts, falling to 8-3 on the season.
The two teams return to action on Saturday, playing a GSAC doubleheader beginning at Noon. The games will be the final two home games for the Biola this season.
