FRESNO, Calif. --- Biola smashed the impact of its loss in game one of Thursday's doubleheader with Fresno Pacific University by scoring a program-record 14 runs in the first inning of game two.
 
Head Coach Jay Sullenger's team also fell just short of new program records for runs and hits in a single game during the win and improved to 7-3 in PacWest play. Fresno Pacific stays at .500 with a record of 8-8, 5-5 PacWest after winning a close contest in game one.
 
"The guys are continuing to desmonstrate the ability to play good baseball, regardless of the circumstances," said Head Coach Jay Sullenger. "We did not play really clean in the first game. But it was really good to see the guys respond and tie it up then show the mental toughness to put the loss behind them and put up a big number in the first inning of game two."

The Eagles nearly pilfered game one with three runs in the eighth inning that tied the score at 5-5. Sunbirds' starter Esteban Lizaola collected 10 strikeouts through seventh innings but could not prevent Biola from handing him a no decision after he entered the eighth with 110 pitches.
 
A Jerron Largusa double and a Jacob Portaro single brought things even after Biola was playing from behind since the bottom of the fifth. The Eagles held game at 5-5 through the eighth inning but ran themselves out of the inning when they tested the arm of the FPU first baseman on a throw to the plate with two outs.
 
Then Fresno Pacific scored the leadoff man in the ninth inning from second base on a two-base wild pitch that won the contest 6-5.
 
Not to be lost in the shuffle of game one is the workhorse performance from Eagles' starter Micah Beyer. The senior righty got through 7.2 innings and threw 25 first-pitch strikes in his 105 pitches. Beyer's only problem inning came in the fifth, when the Sunbirds scored four runs on three hits and two costly errors.
 
But the Eagles maintained the momentum created by the three runs they scored in the eighth and immediately cashed it all in during the first inning of game two.
 
Every member of the Eagles' batting order reached base safely by hit or free pass in their first plate appearance and chased the Sunbirds' starter after just one-third of an inning. Both Jacob Portaro and River Fawley hit three-run home runs in the opening frame while Ryan Gallegos nearly missed his third homerun of the season when his light-tower shot down the left field line was called foul.
 
With those 14 runs in the first, the Eagles surpassed the previous program record of 13 runs in one inning, set in the fourth inning of Biola's game against Concordia University Irvine on March 16, 1988.
 
Biola would eventually score in five of the seven innings and got multi-RBI games from five individual players. Portaro finished the day with six RBI's after driving in four on a 3-for-3 line in game two. But Colton Worthington would maintain his spot atop the team RBI leaderboard with 5 RBI's on a double and a triple in the 18-run win.
 
Troy Stainbrook took care of business in five innings for his third win of the year while freshman Anthony Villegas finished things off with two strikeouts in two innings.

By responding with the win in game one the Eagles continue to avoid their first losing streak of the season. Biola has yet to lose two game in a row this season and has followed each of their four previous losses with at least two wins.

"One of the big thing we preach is mental toughness, that ability to put stuff behind you, whether good or bad, and be in the moment," said Sullenger. "We're gonna have to do that again on Saturday to play some good baseball and put up some runs again."
 
These two teams will pause the series for a day due to the rain forecasted for Friday. Play will resume on Saturday with a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 12 noon.