Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ATHERTON, Calif. --- While the final results may not be exactly what Head Coach Jay Sullenger was hoping for out of this weekend series at Menlo College, the offensive production throughout the week will sure give Biola Baseball some confidence heading back to La Mirada.
 
Biola picked up four runs in a series-opening victory over Menlo on Friday. Then, the Eagles managed nine runs in the opener on Saturday, which was not enough to overcome the Menlo offense powered by four homeruns in a 12-9 loss. Biola scored three in the seven-inning game three, but still lost 7-3.
 
All in all the team got 19 runs across the plate while going 1-2 in the first Golden State Athletic Conference series of the weekend. This was just one run fewer than Menlo managed over the three games and is nearly three runs-per-game higher than the team's season average coming into the series.
 
"I expect the team to respond well to this week," said Head Coach Jay Sullenger. "We look to keep making strides toward the level of baseball we know we can play as a team."
 
The opening game during Saturday's doubleheader was a wild one. The Oaks got out to a 6-0 start against Micah Beyer and the Eagles before BU crammed nine runs into the final four innings as it attempted to chase down the high-octane Menlo offense.
 
Unfortunately, each time the Eagles would get close enough to smell a victory, the Oaks would find a way to tack on a few more runs and keep one step ahead.
 
Biola tightened it to 6-4 with a four-run sixth, but three Menlo runs in the seventh blew the game open again. The Eagles attempted to chip into the lead again with two in the eighth, but three more MC runs in the bottom half kept Biola at arms length headed into the final frame.
 
JD Meyer hit a solo homerun on the first pitch of his at-bat in the ninth to tighten the gap to 12-7. Then a balk and wild pitch allowed the game to get as close as the final three-run deficit before a groundout ended the game and gave a Menlo player a one-out save.
 
"JD swung it really well today, but we did not do enough as a unit to keep up with their offense," said Sullenger. "We got beat today. We took steps forward as a team this weekend, but not enough to compete with the confidence their hitters carried as a group today."
 
The Eagles got 10 hits and drew four walks in a strong offensive effort, but seven runners left on base held them just short of another upset win.
 
The middle of the order was the source of most of the production as BU's 2, 3, 4, 5 hitters combined for seven hits, seven runs and three RBI.
 
Game two was just a story of Biola getting outpitched by a dominant start from Menlo's Nick Bonniksen. Bonniksen pitched all seven innings and allowed just three runs and seven hits to the Eagles while working effectively and efficiently throughout the afternoon.
 
"We were able to locate our fastball consistently yesterday, which was not the case today for either of our starters," said Sullenger.
 
He was boosted by a quick five runs from his offense over the course of the second and third innings. Three doubles and a handful of singles helped Menlo to the advantage it never relinquished.
 
The Eagles got single runs in the third, fourth and seventh but could not string together enough hits to fight back. Meyer drove in two of the Eagles' three runs in game two and ended the two games 4-for-8 with three RBI and two runs scored.
 
Biola falls to 4-8 (1-2 GSAC) after the two losses. Menlo improves to 10-4 (2-1 GSAC). The Eagles are back at Eagles Diamond for a string of home games this week. Play begins Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. with a 9-inning game against Bethesda.