Although the San Diego Christian College Hawks severely cut away at Biola’s lead in the ninth, the Eagles took the first game of the three-game series 5-4. With their victory, the Eagles improve to 11-8 and remain fourth in the Golden State Athletic Conference.

Due to complications with San Diego’s field, the Hawks are the home team for this series, despite Biola retaining home-field advantage.

Senior starting pitcher Jimmy Gallarda took the hill in the bottom of the first with the Eagles ahead 3-0. After senior left fielder Jeremy Barth drove in a run off an RBI fielder’s choice, two additional runs came home on a single from sophomore center fielder Jerron Largusa.

Largusa scored what turned out to be the game-winning run with a two-run homer in the fourth, his seventh of the year. Although the Hawks threatened with a two-run homer in the fifth and a solo homer in the ninth, junior closing pitcher Daniel Jang earned his eighth save of the season.

Despite allowing a season-high 12 hits, Gallarda held the Hawks to just three runs while striking out seven to improve to 7-2.

The Eagles wrap up their three-game series against the Hawks with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 8 starting at 11 a.m.