Despite the three runs generated by junior second baseman JD Meyer, Biola’s baseball team suffered three straight losses to their Golden State Athletic Conference rivals, Westmont College.
CRUSHING BIOLA'S HOPES
The hot-hitting Warriors crushed Biola’s hope of improving their conference record as they swept the Eagles in a three-game series. Dropping to 1-5, the Eagles are eighth in their conference, only ahead of William Jessup University.
“We knew they were going to be a competitive team and they’re ranked No. 16,” said Eric Diomartich, senior starting pitcher. “We knew they were going to play some good ball and that we were going to have to take care of the ball defensively and offensively.”
Although Diomartich pitched seven strong innings, allowing one hit and two runs, the Eagles were unable to win the series opener against Westmont and lost 6-3. With one swing of the bat, Meyer produced the three runs for the Eagles with an RBI double in the bottom of the eighth.
HAUNTING PITCHES
Errors and pitching haunted the Eagles in the second game of the series as the Warriors scored seven runs by the second inning. The two runs in the bottom of the second, scored by sacrifice flies from seniors rightfielder Jeremy Barth and leftfielder Aaron Chavez, were the only runs the Eagles scored as Biola went on to lose 2-14.
Although the Warriors pitching staff silenced Biola’s bats, second baseman Anj Bourgeois went 2-2 late in the game after replacing junior shortstop Alec de Watteville in the top of the sixth.
Westmont spoiled another pitching gem as starting pitcher Jimmy Gallarda, who pitched six innings with five hits and three runs, received the loss in a close 0-3 game. The only two players to have a hit in game three were senior designated hitter Eugene Shin and freshman centerfielder Jerron Largusa.
“It didn’t surprise us that their offense picked up right where they left off last year,” Gallarda said. “We were expecting a team that was coming out swinging and a pitching staff that has been good in years past.”
ANOTHER CHANCE
With a four-game losing streak, the Eagles played a solo-game against Bethesda University after their set against Westmont. The Eagles already faced the Flames three times this season, going 1-2 in close and high scoring games.
“Our offense got behind our pitchers and started manufacturing runs and that makes it easier on our pitchers,” Diomartich said. “We got a big enough lead in the early part of the game and that was a enough to get us through.”
Their fourth matchup of the season was another high scoring, back-and-forth game which the Eagles won from a walk-off single from senior third baseman Andres Rodriguez.
With their 9-8 win, the Eagles improved to a 6-11 season record. Both Meyer and junior catcher Sam Thorne went 2-4, the former with two RBIs. De Watteville hit his fifth home run of the season against the Flames, leading the team in homeruns.
With another chance to improve their conference record, the Eagles will take the diamond against William Jessup University, starting on Friday, March 4 at 2:30 p.m.
