The Eagles continued their up-and-down start to the season last week, splitting a doubleheader with Point Loma on Saturday, then beating Bethany College at home early this week. Biola enjoyed quality work from its pitching staff, and impressive, but sporadic, offensive performance in route to their 3-1 week of play.
Returning to conference play against rival Point Loma on Saturday, Biola saw another masterful performance by lefty starter, senior Jimmy Johnson in the 10-4 game one victory. He went eight strong, keeping a quality Sea Lion offense to four runs on five hits, while striking out five. Johnson improves his record to 3-0 on the year, with a 2.57 ERA through his first 21 innings.
Junior Hawkins Gebbers led the offensive charge, going 4-5 on the day, with two RBI’s and four runs scored. But the Eagles, a model of inconsistency this season, had little offensive production and were shaky in the field, as Point Loma took game two of the doubleheader, 6-3.
The Sea Lions were on the board first, scoring three runs in the first two innings off Eagle’s junior starter Charlie Gausepohl. He tossed four innings, allowing just one earned run on four hits. He pitched his way out of trouble all day, but defensive miscues in the second inning allowed Point Loma to score two unearned runs early.
Biola responded to Point Loma’s quick runs with three of their own in the third, capped by a two-run double by junior center fielder Chris Foreman.
But two solo home runs by Point Loma left fielder Mike Reynolds in the fifth and seventh were too much for the Eagles to handle. Senior Josh Baas collected the loss in the game, tossing 2 and 1/3, allowing his first earned runs of the season thus far.
Biola fell to 2-3 in GSAC play to start the year.
The Eagles returned to non-conference games on Monday and Tuesday, playing host to Bethany College. Biola came from behind in game one, winning the extra-inning affair 11-9, with a walk off home run by senior Kris Cook. Until the tenth inning Biola was 0-4 on the day until Cook broke out and gave the Eagles a much-needed boost.
“We really needed it,” Cook said.
Biola needed three runs in the bottom of the ninth to force extra innings. A two out, two RBI single by senior Matt McQueen capped the rally. Sophomore Steven Alexander threw a perfect tenth, striking out the side, to put the Eagles back on offense. When Cook’s home run sailed over the right field fence, Alexander picked up his first win of the season.
The Eagles had no trouble picking up the win in their second game against Bethany, thanks to impressive work on the mound from Baas. He threw his way to his first win of the season, tossing seven scoreless, giving up five hits and striking out six Bruins.
“I just tried to challenge them in each bat … just went right after them,” Baas said about his pitching approach.
Junior shortstop Nick Rotkowitz had two hits and two RBI’s to lead the Eagles offensively, while Foreman went 2-5 with a lead off a triple in the second inning.
“We just need to start doing it in conference,” Baas said in response to the Eagles’ wins over Bethany. “Our pitching has been lights out; we just need to be more consistent at the plate,” said centerfielder Chris Foreman.
He also commented on the team’s inconsistency, noting that the offense can score 15 runs one game and zero the next.
“But things are starting to come around,” Baas said.
Foreman turned his slow start around this week, with seven hits in his last 15 at bats.
Both Baas and Foreman are excited about the team’s chemistry this season. Foreman admires the transfers’ ability to assimilate so easily to the program, and Baas feels the team gets along extremely well. They are both optimistic about the team’s chances this season.
The Eagles’ return to conference play today, playing host to a Vanguard team that beat them 4-0 last week. Junior transfer Brian Albert will get the ball again, still looking for his first win as an Eagle after suffering two tough losses in his first outings when he received zero run support.
First pitch at the Eagles’ diamond is at 2 p.m.
