Biola baseball started off with a win but ended the weekend series in a heartache double-header, dropping both to the Cal State University San Marcos Cougars on Saturday, Feb. 15.
The weekend started with a strong victory at home on Friday, with a final score of 10-3. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Sean Rothfuss was a big part of that win, pitching six innings and retiring 19 of the 27 batters he faced.
Rothfuss filled in as a starter for junior pitcher Garrett Picha, who was taking the week off in order to prepare for conference next week.
“I like starting and relieving,” Rothfuss said. “Both are important roles and whichever one I am called to do for the day I strive to do my best and at the same time always remember to have fun.”
Senior shortstop Johnny Farrington, senior outfielder/catcher Michael Annunziata and junior center fielder Rob Groeschel also helped by each contributing two runs for the Eagles.
“Going into this series my expectation was to hopefully get a sweep,” Annunziata said. “We knew that even though they were non conference games, it would be nice to get on a hot streak and start playing the way we are capable of.”
Sophomore catcher, Sam Thorne, stepped up in the seventh and eighth innings, going 2-for-2 with four runs batted in. He is the first of the Eagles this season to reach four RBI in one game. He ended last season with a .356 batting average and currently holds a .264 this season.
Not only did Farrington and Groeschell break the ice by putting the Eagles on the board on Friday, but they each provided two of the five runs scored in the second game on Saturday in San Marcos. Tanner Swire scored the fifth, but unfortunately the Cougars’ two runs in the sixth inning gave them the win with a final score of 6-5.
The first game on Saturday was difficult to stomach, as the Eagles were crushed 11-4. Biola’s closest attempt at comeback came during the sixth inning. With a couple players in scoring position, freshman Sean McCarrell singled, bringing in two runs. Groeschell also tacked on an RBI, but Biola was unable to keep up with the Cougars, continuing to fall behind.
“Throughout the series we improved, and I think we got better even though we didn’t get the results we wanted,” Rothfuss said.
San Marcos appears to be a field of bad luck. The Eagles lost in the Cougars’ territory last year and won one of two games in the 2012 season. The big win on Friday gave the Eagles a glimmer of hope for a different outcome.
“We played home so playing home is always a little bit more comfortable, but I think we were all equally prepared for both games,” Annunziata said.
Despite the weekend disappointment, the Eagles put themselves back on the right track after a solid home win on Tuesday afternoon against Corban University, 7-1. In order to succeed this season, though, Biola is going to need to find a way to win against winning teams, as Corban is 2-5 on the year.
Biola heads back into conference games against Concordia University at home this weekend, first game is on Friday at 2 p.m.
