Stormy weather this past weekend caused Biola baseball’s series with Vanguard University to get bumped to Tuesday, but the change ultimately did not favor the Eagles.
Biola dropped the rescheduled doubleheader Tuesday afternoon to the Lions by scores of 3-1 and 4-3.
Junior Garrett Picha pitched the entire first game for the Eagles, giving up three earned runs on seven hits, with three strikeouts and three walks. The lefty had a wobbly start, giving up two runs in the first and one in the third. From the fourth inning on, however, Picha was solid, giving up just three hits and not allowing another run to score.
Picha picked up his third loss of the season in an afternoon matchup where the Eagles struggled to bring runs home. Despite matching the Lions with seven hits, Biola only scored once. With the bases loaded in the top of the second, senior infielder Johnny Farrington was hit by a pitch, which brought home senior infielder Boone Farrington for the Eagles’ sole run of the game.
BACK AND FORTH
In the second game, it was Biola who got things going first. Senior right fielder Luke Klocek singled in the top of the first to score junior center fielder Rob Groeschell from second base.
Vanguard responded in the second with a two-run scoring single, taking a 2-1 lead. They would build to that lead in the fifth inning, scoring another run on a two-out double down the right field line.
But the Eagles wouldn’t go down without a fight. After loading the bases in the seventh, Johnny Farrington singled up the middle to tack on a run. Groeschell followed with another base hit, as senior first baseman David McNeill scored the tying run.
GAME PLAN CHANGED
Unlike the first game, Biola used six pitchers in game two. Senior Sage Poland came in to pitch the seventh and retired all three-hitters. Following a scoreless top of the eighth for the Eagles, Poland gave up a bunt single and a walk-off double to secure a 4-3 victory and the doubleheader sweep for Vanguard.
Now halfway through the season and on a four-game losing streak, Biola holds an 8-17 overall record, and is 4-10 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. The Eagles sit sixth out of seven in the GSAC standings.
It’s no easy road ahead either for the Eagles, as seven of the next eight games will be against ranked opponents. Biola opens a three-game series against No. 22 San Diego Christian College this Friday at 2:30 p.m. in El Cajon.
