Biola baseball came back from a four-run deficit, scoring six fifth-inning runs to sweep Saturday’s doubleheader against Azusa Pacific University — 6-2, 6-4.

After taking game one, Biola fell behind 4-0 in game two and had recorded just one hit off Azusa Pacific left-hander Nate Namanny until the Eagles exploded for six runs in the fifth, capped off by a two-out, two-run double off the bat of junior right fielder Vince Lawrence.

“My emotions were ecstatic at that moment,” Lawrence said. “There’s no better feeling than getting the big hit when your team mounts a comeback like we were able to do in that inning.”

Lawrence has had the hot bat lately, recording hits in four straight games including three multi-hit games. He’s batting .571 (8-for-14) with two RBIs and three runs over the stretch.

“My plan is always looking for a fastball early in the count that I can drive,” he said.

Prior to Lawrence’s game-winner, the Eagles pecked away at Azusa Pacific’s lead one run at a time. Junior shortstop Johnny Farrington put Biola on the board with a run-scoring single, followed by sophomore right fielder Paul Slater who plated another run with a double. Junior left fielder Luke Klocek got the Eagles within one on a fielder’s choice and two batters later, freshman catcher Sam Thorne picked up his team-leading 17th RBI to tie the game at four.

Picha gets last six outs to preserve comeback win

Sophomore left-hander Garrett Picha came in to relieve senior reliever Jon Cade with two on and no outs in the sixth after Cade drilled back-to-back batters. Picha recorded the next six outs, giving up one hit and striking out two to pick up his first save of the year and preserve the comeback win.

“It was a total team effort,” senior center fielder Benji Sutherland said.

Staumont solid in game one win

Freshman right-hander Josh Staumont picked up his third win of the year in game one, going 8.1 innings and giving up just two runs — a two-run, opposite-field bomb off the bat of Azusa Pacific center fielder Matt Kimmel that left even Staumont in disbelief.

“I was incredibly caught off guard on that swing,” Staumont said. “I threw it at the top of his head where I needed it and he put one of the most unique swings I have ever seen when it comes to putting the ball over the fence.

“All respect goes to Kimmel,” he said.

Aside from the home run, which was Kimmel’s second of the year, Staumont kept Azusa Pacific off the board striking out five and lowering his season ERA to 2.43.

“It was great to see Josh throwing strikes and working out of jams,” Sutherland said.

Sutherland shines in game one victory

One day after a hitless night in Azusa ended his 13-game hitting streak, Sutherland picked it right back up with a three-hit ballgame in game one. His three RBIs comprised half the team’s run production and upped his season total to 10.

"I was just glad to step into the role of the three-hitter and drive in some runs,” Sutherland said. “They threw me mostly away and I just went with the pitch.”

Farrington went 4-for-7 with two runs and an RBI over the course of both games — his first hits since launching his first career home run Thursday night in Azusa.

Biola will play one more non-conference game — a Tuesday afternoon meeting with California State University, San Marcos — before resuming Golden State Athletic Conference play again next Friday in Irvine against Concordia University Irvine.