The Biola baseball team wrapped up their series against the Menlo College Oaks, losing both games of the double header.
In the first game, Menlo College took an early four-run lead in the bottom of the fourth. After allowing two more runs in the bottom of the fifth, starting sophomore pitcher Micah Beyer surrendered the mound in order to relieve pitcher freshman Tiger Chase. Beyer threw five innings with eight hits, six runs and three strikeouts.
Second baseman junior JD Meyer sparked a crucial sixth inning push with a lead-off double. The next four batters reached base with a hit or a walk, which led to a four-run inning for the Eagles. With the score 4-6, Meyer, who led off the sixth, flew out to centerfield to end the inning.
After another offensive outburst in the bottom of the seventh, the Eagles found themselves down against the Oaks 4-9. However, they countered the Oaks’ three runs with two of their own in the top of the eighth thanks to a RBI triple from centerfielder freshman Jerron Largusa and a sacrifice fly from leftfielder senior Aaron Chavez.
After scoring three more runs in the bottom of the eighth, it seemed as if the game was over. However, the Eagles did not go down without a fight and came within three runs of tying the Oaks.
Meyer started off the inning with a solo home run and first baseman junior Jimmy Gallardo scored off of a balk. Then designated hitter senior Eugene Shin scored off a wild pitch, but the Eagles were unable to come back and lost game two of the series 9-12.
While Beyer dropped to 1-2 after receiving the loss, players such as Meyer and shortstop junior Alec de Watteville both went 2-4, the former hitting his first home run of the season.
In the second game of the double header and the deciding final game of the three-games set, the Oaks once again took an early lead, scoring three in the bottom of the second inning off starting pitcher Gallarda. Gallarda pitched five innings, allowing six runs, four of which were earned, and nine hits.
The Eagles scored one run in both the third and fourth inning. In the third, Meyer doubled, which brought home leftfielder junior Sam Thorne. In the next inning, leftfielder Jerron Largusa hit a sacrifice fly, but by then Biola trailed the Oaks 2-5.
After the Oaks scored two more runs in the fifth and sixth, the Eagles made a seventh inning push, scoring off of a RBI triple from Meyers. However, their comeback was extinguished after one run and the Eagles left Menlo College with four errors, losing two in a row and Gallarda dropping to 1-2.
After taking one game from Menlo College, the Eagles come back home to take on the Bethesda University Flames on Feb. 17 at 2:00 p.m.
