LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola and Hawai'i Pacific played a tight, competitive game for six innings before the Sharks erupted for nine runs in the top of the seventh to pull away for an 11-2 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Biola.
The Sharks struck first in the opening frame. Tyler Arnold singled down the right-field line and Noah Hata followed with a single to left. After Kan Taguchi reached on a fielder's choice, a walk to Sam Schneider loaded the bases. A fielding error by the Biola second baseman allowed two unearned runs to score, giving HPU a 2-0 lead.
From there, sophomore lefty Luke Ballantyne settled in and dominated. He retired the Sharks in order in the second and third innings — highlighted by a double play turned by Kevin Villegas and Oscar Knapp — and worked around traffic in the fourth and fifth to keep it a two-run game. He loaded the bases in the fifth but struck out a Sharks batter to end the threat. In all, Ballantyne tossed six innings, allowing just four hits and two unearned runs while striking out nine.
The HPU starter matched Ballantyne pitch for pitch, holding Biola scoreless through four innings despite allowing four hits. The Sharks turned to reliever Cristian Garcia in the fifth, who set the Eagles down in order.
Biola finally broke through in their half of the sixth. James Whitman led off with a double down the left-field line, and Oscar Knapp followed with a two-run home run to right center to tie the game at 2-2.
The tie didn't last. Hawai'i Pacific sent 12 batters to the plate in a nine-run seventh inning that blew the game open. Dylan Alanis entered in relief to start the frame and walked Taydem Hashimoto, who stole second. After another walk to Arnold and a throwing error by Alanis, Hata delivered an RBI single to make it 3-2.
Noe Novella came on and hit Taguchi to load the bases. Pinch hitter Jayden Gabrillo singled to right to plate two more, and after a walk reloaded the bases, Andrew Nykoluk singled to center for two more runs. Arnold then capped the inning with a grand slam to left field, giving the Sharks a commanding 11-2 lead.
Ballantyne had to take a no decision despite his strong outing. Garcia worked two innings of relief, allowing two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. Jacob Vanek closed it out with a perfect seventh, striking out all three batters he faced.
Biola finished with six hits in the game. Whitman went 1-for-2 with a double and a walk.
With the loss, Biola moved to 18-20 on the season and 14-16 in PacWest play. The teams are due to play another 7-inning game at Eagles Diamond later on Saturday afternoon. Follow that game live at this link.
