Biola baseball finished their 2013 campaign in El Centro, suffering their second consecutive series sweep at the hands of San Diego Christian College — 2-1, 3-2, 7-4.
The Eagles finished the season losing six straight games, part of a disastrous 3-12 skid that plummeted Biola to the bottom of the Golden State Athletic Conference standings and out of postseason contention.
“We’re pretty embarrassed about it and it’s going to keep us hungry next year,” freshman catcher Sam Thorne said.
Friday’s series opener featured senior Nick Turner’s final collegiate start and the right-hander was solid despite taking his third consecutive loss. Giving up no earned runs in eight innings, Turner concluded a stellar 9-5 season with a hard-luck loss with two unearned runs scoring on two Biola errors.
“The ending isn’t bittersweet, it’s bitter,” Turner said. “It hurts every day accepting that it’s over, but it’s not where I find my identity.”
Biola took the lead on junior infielder David McNeill’s RBI single in the fourth, but the Hawks clawed their way back eventually taking a 2-1 lead in the eighth inning.
Staumont strikes out career-high 12 in loss
Freshman right-hander Josh Staumont pitched another impressive game one week after going 10.2 innings into last Saturday’s loss to Vanguard University. Staumont left after seven innings of two-run ball having struck out a career-high 12 batters — his third double-digit strikeout performance of the season.
Staumont finished his impressive freshman season going 6-6 with a 4.05 ERA and GSAC-leading 109 strikeouts. He finished just three punch outs short of leading the entire NAIA.
Fellow freshman Trevor Oaks finished second in the GSAC with 95 strikeouts, and closed the book on his debut year going five innings and allowing four runs. The redshirt struck out seven, but suffered his eighth loss of 2013.
Oaks and the Eagles fell behind early as the Hawks struck for four runs in the opening frame thanks to a two-run homer from San Diego Christian first baseman Garrison McLagan — just the third home run off Oaks all year.
Sutherland finishes career with hot series
Senior center fielder Benji Sutherland went 5-for-10 with a double and two RBIs over the three-game series to conclude a successful four years for Biola. Batting over .300 in three of his four seasons, Sutherland compiled 235 hits for the Eagles with a career batting average of .324.
Junior left fielder Vince Lawrence finished his final five games in a 2-for-20 slump, but feels lucky to have been part of a special team this season.
“One of the biggest positives I’ve taken away from this year with this squad is just never giving up no matter what the scoreboard reflects,” Lawrence said. “Anything can happen with some faith and belief within each other.”
Throughout the dugout, teammates agree that next season will bring better times and for those returning, an exciting time awaits with soon-to-be head coach Jay Sullenger.
“It sucked that we lost the last six games and finished in last,” Thorne said, “but it was probably the best thing that could have happened for next year’s team because it will force us to work harder and not take anything for granted.”
