Coming off of a solid 16-10 victory against California State University San Marcos on Tuesday, Biola’s baseball team faced the San Diego Christian Hawks on Friday in the first game of their series. Biola found themselves on the losing side of the spectrum, after 36 total hits ended in a 17-8 loss for the Eagles. This moves their Golden State Athletic Conference record to 12-25, with an overall record of 18-28.

Both teams scored at least one run in every inning except the first in this offensive showdown. The Hawks got on the board first, scoring off a sacrifice bunt that scored a man from third due to an error from Biola’s first baseman, sophomore Jimmy Gallarda. Biola responded in the bottom of the third, getting a solo home run from senior Tanner Swire followed by a two RBI single from sophomore Jeremy Barth.

San Diego Christian got another run in the fourth, then started pulling away in the fifth and sixth. Lejon Baker, the Hawks’ left fielder, smashed a three-run home run in each of those innings to put the Hawks up 8-3 going into the seventh. In the seventh, they scored another run, but Biola’s left-fielder Barth saved a second run by throwing a laser from left field to home to beat out a runner.

The eighth inning proved to be the deciding factor, as SDCU piled on seven additional runs. Going into the bottom of the eight, Biola was down 16-3. The Eagles refused to quit, getting five more runs and limiting the Hawks to only one run in the ninth. A comeback stayed out of reach, however, and this game ended in the Hawks’ favor.

Biola fielded four pitchers on the afternoon. Senior Garret Picha got the start, and went 5.2 innings, giving up 11 hits and eight runs. Junior Sean Rothfuss stepped up next, and went 1.1 innings, only giving up one run and one hit. Sophomore Jesse Yancosek pitched 0.2 innings, giving up seven runs in the eighth inning. Sophomore Sean McCarrell finished off the remaining 1.1 innings, giving up only the run in the top of the ninth and three hits.

“We just gotta want to succeed, and to do the things necessary to do that,” said Barth. “And we just didn’t do that today.”

The Eagles continue the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, the first game starting at 12 p.m. at Eagles Diamond.