The Eagles began their busy weekend consisting of four Golden State Athletic Conference games, with a 14-9 win over No. 6 Menlo College. With home runs from senior catcher Rawley Hughes and junior shortstop Ricky Perez, the Eagles handed the Oaks their first conference loss and improved to 4-5 in GSAC.

“We did a lot of drills yesterday to shorten our swings, just because we knew they would supply the power and speed,” Hughes said.

Senior starting pitcher Jimmy Gallarda ducked in and out of trouble in his second start against the Oaks. Although he allowed 10 hits and eight runs through seven innings, his confidence soared as the Eagles took a commanding 7-0 lead in the second.

Hughes put the Eagles on the board with a two-run homer, his second in the past two games. Following an RBI groundout, junior designated hitter Colton Worthington knocked in two runs with an RBI single. Senior left fielder Jeremy Barth’s second double of the inning scored two runs and capped the Eagles’ scoring.

The Oaks chipped away at their deficit with four runs in the seventh, but Biola’s heavy sixth inning strengthened their lead. Singles from sophomore centerfielder Jerron Largusa and sophomore third baseman Joey Magro both scored two runs.

Magro eventually crossed the plate as Barth drove in his second run of the game. After senior first baseman Jonas Wellan singled in a run, the Eagles left the inning with a 13-4 lead. Adding to Biola’s already substantial lead, Perez launched his first home run of the season over the left field wall.

“I’ve been struggling all season, so I’m trying to do everything I can to help the team win,” Perez said. “Just by taking a good approach I tried to hit the ball somewhere and luckily it hit the barrel.”

Nearing an even conference record, the Eagles host a three-game series against Arizona Christian University starting at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, March 10.