The Eagles had a very successful Easter break. They went 5-1 over the week, winning all three of their league games. They have gone 9-1 in their last 10 games and now sit in second place in the GSAC with a 14-7 record. Junior Chris Foreman and senior Josh Baas led the charge over the break for the Eagles and both received player of the week honors for their performances.
Last Monday the Eagles were in Santa Cruz to play a non-conference game against Bethany College. Baas got the start for Biola and threw well to pick up the win. He went six strong, allowing two runs on six hits while striking out 11. Bethany starter Matt Rossignol had a good outing as well, throwing all nine innings and allowing four runs, also with 11 strikeouts, but the Eagle offense put together just enough to pull away with the win. Foreman hit a two-run shot in the third to give the team an early lead. He then had an RBI triple in the eighth to tie the game up at three and scored the go-ahead run on junior Nick Rotkowitz’s single.
Biola next played non-conference Patten in a doubleheader in San Leandro on Tuesday (3/25). The Eagles split the double dip, losing the first contest 4-3 but winning the nightcap 11-2. Sophomore Charlie Gausepohl threw five strong in game one, allowing two runs on two hits, but Patten scored two more off the bullpen and came away with the win.
The Eagles came out strong in the second game, scoring seven runs in the first four innings in support of freshmen pitchers Tavish O’Keefe and Bobby O’Neill. O’Neill threw wonderfully in relief, tossing 3 2/3 scoreless, allowing no hits and walking just one. He picked up his second win of the season. Junior Hawkins Gebbers and Foreman led the way offensively, both with three RBI’s. Senior Matt McQueen was also 3-3 on the day.
Biola jumped back into region play on Thursday up in Santa Barbara in a game against Westmont. The Eagle offense was in full force, racking up 22 runs on 24 hits in route to a 22-5 victory.
The Eagles had two doubles, four triples and a home run on the day and were led by Foreman once again. He went 4-5, scoring five runs and knocking in three. He was just a home run short of the cycle. Catcher sophomore Daniel Bodemer was also 4-5 on the day, capped by his two-run jack in the fifth inning. Senior Kris Cook went 3-4 with 3 RBI’s, adding to the onslaught.
Junior Brian Albert threw seven innings to pick up the win. He allowed two runs on five hits, striking out six. He improves to 4-3 on the season.
The most important games of the week for Biola were played on Saturday in San Diego. The Eagles dropped a game to the Hawks early in the season at home and were looking to right the wrong. They did so, taking both games on the road, winning game one 14-3 and game two 9-1.
Senior Jimmy Johnson got the ball in game one and threw tremendously. He went all nine innings allowing three runs on 11 hits. He improved to 7-1 with the win.
Biola got to San Diego pitching early, scoring seven runs in the first three innings. McQueen had a two run homer in the second to get the ball rolling. Cook then hit a three-run homer in the third, followed by a two-run shot by junior Chad Pace, giving Biola the early lead. The Eagles scored runs in six of nine innings in the game, racking up 17 hits to secure the victory.
In game two, Biola sent Baas to the mound for his second start of the week. He was even more impressive than in his first outing. He threw a complete seven innings, allowing one run on four hits, striking out five. He improved to 6-1 on the year with a team best 1.15 ERA. He is the only starting pitcher in the entire GSAC with an ERA less than two.
Cook and junior David West led the charge offensively, both going 3-4 on the day. Biola is 23-9 overall for the season and 14-7 in the GSAC, second only to APU.
The Eagle’s picked up another conference win yesterday, taking down Vanguard at home, 12-8. Albert picked up his fifth win of the season, improving to 5-3. They will play Vanguard again tomorrow, this time on the road. First pitch in Costa Mesa is at 3 p.m.
