LA MIRADA, Calif. — Biola used a three-run sixth inning to pull away from Vanguard and claim a 7-3 victory in the first game of a doubleheader at Eagles Diamond.
Jacob Talbott delivered six strong innings on the mound, and Jonny Tewinkle collected three hits and two RBI to pace an offense that answered every time the Lions got on the board.
The game was scoreless through two innings before Vanguard's Nathan Hellein led off the third with a solo home run to left center to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Biola responded immediately in the bottom half. With two outs, Tewinkle fought through a full count and lined an RBI single to left field to score Whippo and tie the game. An intentional walk to
James Whitman loaded the bases, and
Kyle Rogers drew a walk to force in Caruso and push the Eagles ahead 2-1.
Vanguard answered in the fifth with a two-run homer to left center, putting the Lions back in front 3-2.
The Eagles wasted no time retaking the lead. In the bottom of the fifth, Tewinkle singled with two outs, and Whitman launched a two-run home run to left field on a 3-0 pitch to put Biola ahead 4-3. It was a productive use of one of Whitman's two at-bats in this one. He was intentionally walked twice.
Biola blew the game open in the sixth following a Vanguard pitching change. Kevin Villegas greeted the new pitcher with an RBI single to center to make it 5-3. A throwing error by the Vanguard second baseman allowed another run to score, and Tewinkle followed with another RBI single — his third hit of the day — to extend the lead to 7-3.
Talbott worked six innings, allowing three runs on six hits with five strikeouts and just one walk on 92 pitches. Dylan Alanis entered in the seventh and allowed no hits over two scoreless innings, striking out two.
Blake Wentz closed it out in the ninth, working around a Biola error and a single to strike out two and secure the final three outs.
Biola moved to 22-23 on the season and 18-19 in PacWest play.
The second game of this doubleheader is starting at Eagles Diamond around 3:15 pm. Tune in for the live stream at
this link. Free live stats available at
this link.
