After three consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference matchups, supportive offense and dominant pitching led the Eagles to their third series sweep on the season against the Providence Christian College Sea Beggars.
“We played well in all three facets, they were a weaker squad but we were able to take good at bats and produce runs,” said Andrew Frank, junior outfielder.
GIVING UP FOUR
Despite giving up four runs in the ninth inning, the Eagles managed to hang onto their lead and beat the Sea Beggars 8-6 in the series opener. The Eagles jumped on the board in the top of the first, scoring three runs from a groundout from junior first baseman, Jonas Wellan, and a double from junior rightfielder, Jimmy Gallarda.
With a home run from junior catcher Sam Thorne and two RBIs from junior shortstop Alec de Watteville in the third, the Eagles led the Sea Beggars 8-2 going into the bottom of the ninth.
Senior starting pitcher Eric Diomartich held the Sea Beggars to eight hits and two runs through seven innings, striking out five. His quality start, which ultimately earned him his fourth win of the season, was nearly spoiled by the Sea Beggars four-run rally. With only one out and go-ahead run at the plate, junior left-handed pitcher Buddy Brouwer earned his fourth save of the season after closing the game for the Eagles.
CLINCHING THE SERIES
Biola clinched the series win in another two-run victory in the second game of the set. With the game tied at two, a sacrifice fly from de Watteville in the sixth and a home run from freshman centerfielder Jerron Largusa in the seventh put the Eagles ahead as Biola won the game 4-2. Although junior starting pitcher Gabe Ihrig pitched through the first 5.2 innings, allowing six hits and two runs, Brouwer improved to 2-1 after earning the win from his work in relief.
Runs came in plenty for the Eagles as they completed the sweep with their 17-1 victory over the Sea Beggars. After scoring one run in the first two innings, the Eagles secured their win with six runs in the third and nine in the sixth. Sophomore right-handed pitcher Daniel Jang improved to 4-1, pitching five shutout innings and allowing only two hits.
“When our batters only got four, our pitchers held them to two,” said Sean Rothfuss, senior right-handed pitcher. “And even when our pitchers weren’t doing good our hitters came in and did well.”
SWEEPING THE OPPONENT
While the Eagles took a break from their GSAC matchups and swept their opponent, the Menlo College Oaks were swept by Hope International University, dropping from third to fifth place in GSAC. With Menlo College out of the top four, the Eagles now hold the lowest play-off qualifying spot in the conference and stand only one game behind The Master’s College.
Hoping to hold onto their play-off spot, the Eagles come home to play a three-game series against the San Diego Christian College Hawks starting on Friday, April 8 at 3 p.m.
