Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 LA MIRADA, Calif. --- An explosive offensive performance in the early game secured Biola's 2-to-1 series win over No. 24 Vanguard. It was just the second time since the start of February the Eagles have won a series, and their first against a ranked opponent.

After a 6-5 victory yesterday, the Eagles' bats continued to roll against the Lions, as they piled on 10 runs to outlast a ninth-inning comeback attempt and get the 10-9 win. In the second game, it was Vanguard's turn to pour on the runs, taking advantage of a weary Eagles' pitching staff to win 11-2. 

The first six innings of the opener featured a tight, back-and-forth affair featuring four different lead changes. However, the Eagles broke the game open in their half of the seventh with patient hitting by Boone Farrington, Michael Annunziata and David McNeil, as each big bat knocked in runners in the inning.

The Lions' starting pitcher, Eddie Rivera, had been dinged for four runs through the first six innings, and he had thrown over 100 pitches thrown as he headed to the bump in the seventh.

Rivera's command was clearly starting to slip as he beaned Johnny Farrington then gave up consecutive singles to left field. The Lions' defense compounded a tough game for its pitchers by committing five errors. Two of their errors contributed to Biola's explosive seventh inning as a throwing error on Boone Farrington's single and a mishandling of David McNeill's shot to left field allowed Biola to capitalize with runs.

Biola needed every one of the 10 runs they built up as Vanguard stormed back in the ninth against a poor showing from the Eagles' bullpen. Facing a five-run deficit, Vanguard powered back to within one behind four hits, including Taylor McKnight's two-run blast over the left-center wall.

The comeback fell short though when Sage Poland, who has appeared in relief in 21 games this season, was finally able to get Nick Rodda to groundout and finish off his second save of the season.

The poor pitching unfortunately carried over into the second game for Eagles. Vanguard was consistently able to put runs on the board behind 13 hits and drawing three walks.

"The finish to game one is what cost us game two," said Head Coach Jay Sullenger. "The main guy I was counting on using ended up finishing the first one, and barely did, so he wasn't available for the second. Then, we were just mixing and matching."

Jesse Yancosek started and went five innings for the Eagles, but Biola's bats fell silent after an Annunziata RBI in the first inning. Their only other run would come courtesy of a wild pitch in the second, which allowed Tanner Swire to sprint for the score.

"Yancosek didn't do a bad job. He just didn't do enough to give us the chance to win," said Sullenger. "When we tried to put some other arms in to switch it up the third time through the order, it just didn't work out for us."

Biola's performance over the course of the three games is easily its most impressive performance in a series since the Eagles beat Westmont two-of-three in the first home series of conference play.

The Eagles look to keep that momentum as they make their final road trip of the season to Menlo College on Tuesday and Wednesday. Biola will be back at home next weekend for their final three games of the regular season.