The youngster Nate Coronado continued to turn heads as he picked up his fourth win in his freshman campaign. He allowed just three runs over six innings to help Biola down No. 8 Azusa Pacific 5-4 in the first game of a GSAC doubleheader on Saturday in Azusa.

Chris Foreman opened the game with a single to center and advanced to second on a rare balk call. Brent Chavez followed with a walk and both baserunners advanced on a perfectly-executed double steal. Foreman then came around to score on an infield groundout by Nick Rotkowitz and Chavez followed in the same fashion as Hawkins Gebbers grounded out to second.

The Eagles would get another pair in the fourth with two out as Foreman and Chavez again led the Biola rally. Foreman hit a single to right-center and proceeded to swipe second. Chavez then stepped up and beat one out for an infield single and the two each advanced a base on an error by the APU third baseman. Rotkowitz then followed driving a double into the gap scoring Foreman and Chavez and the Eagles led comfortably 5-0.

Azusa would finally get on the board in the bottom of the fourth as Ryan Delgado deposited one over the left field fence. They would tack on three more runs in the innings to follow but could not bring around the tying run as closer Billy Vopinek came in and slammed the door retiring Azusa in order with just six pitches as Biola held on to win.

In the second game Azusa would jump out to a quick lead as they smacked around Brian Albert in the first inning scoring four runs. Biola would answer in the second inning. Vopinek led off the frame with a single up the middle, then was moved to third by a single off the bat of David West. Vopinek would come around to score on a wild pitch just a few pitches later.

The Eagles tied the game in the fifth rallying to score three runs. Chad Pace and Foreman led off the inning with back-to-back singles and were doubled home by Chavez. One out later, Chavez came around to tie the game on an RBI-single by Hawkins Gebber.

APU’s Delgado struck again, however, and launched another homer over the fence with a runner on base and that would prove to be the deciding run as Biola lose to the Cougars 4-6.

Albert suffered the loss in the game, falling to 1-5 on the season.

Biola improves to 13-12 on the season and to 7-5 in GSAC play while Azusa Pacific moves to 22-4 and 12-4 in the conference.