LA MIRADA, Calif. — Big offensive days from Adiel Torres and Oscar Knapp key a 12-5 victory for Biola in game one of its four-game set with Menlo College at Eagles Diamond.
As a whole, Biola managed 11 hits to go along with five walks and made the most of four Menlo errors to score 12 for the third time this season. The run support came early and often for BU, as they took the lead in the bottom of the third inning and then never trailed again.
Menlo opened the scoring with back-to-back solo shots in their half of the second. In Biola's third, it was a streak of five consecutive base runners that was punctuated by back-to-back 2-run plays from BU.
Those runs came off batted balls from Torres and Knapp. Torres scored three times in the game, helped along by a phenomenal 4-for-4 effort from Knapp, who drove in three and scored once himself.
Biola grew its lead with two runs in the fifth and three more in the seventh while the Biola pitchers managed zeroes on the scoreboard in the third through seventh innings. Blake Wentz got the start for coach Jesse Rodgers and went five and two-thirds of very effective work, limiting Menlo to just those two solo homeruns while striking out six.
The long ball struck again for the Oaks in their half of the eighth. A 3-run homerun brought them back to within four runs. But, Biola answered back immediately with three of their own in the bottom of the eighth using three consecutive walks to start their offense that inning.
On the bump, Taj Brar had a standout effort for the Eagles. He went one and one thirds innings and did not allow any runs in relief. Three of his four outs recorded were via strikeout.
The win pushed Biola to 6-7 overall and now 2-3 in PacWest Conference competition. The two teams have a 7-inning game two also on Saturday.
