With a pair of home runs hit by junior shortstop Alec de Watteville, the Eagles are catching up to The Master’s College Mustangs in the Golden State Athletic Conference. Now holding a 6-7 conference record, Biola is only one game behind the Mustangs, who are in fourth place and currently hold the lowest tournament-qualifying spot in GSAC.

Although the Mustangs took an early lead in the top of the first, the Eagles silenced the opposing dugout with five runs in the bottom of the first. After de Watteville tied the game with an RBI single, the next four batters brought runners home as the Eagles shot ahead of the Mustangs 5-1.

In the bottom of the second, de Watteville hit his first home run of the game, scoring both himself and senior designated hitter Eugene Shin. Shortly after de Watteville’s second homer in the bottom of the fifth, senior starting pitcher Eric Diomartich left the mound with the Eagles 8-2 lead in tact and ended with four hits, three runs and five strikeouts through six innings. After his quality start, Diomartich improved to a 2-4 season record.

After going 3-4 with five RBIs and two homers, de Watteville lead the Eagles with eight home runs. Along with de Watteville, junior catcher Sam Thorne and senior rightfielder Jeremy Barth aided in fueling the Eagles to their sixth conference victory.

Inching closer to fourth place, the Eagles wrap up their three-game set against the Mustangs with a doubleheader at home on March 19, starting at 11 a.m.