Azusa Pacific 10
Biola 5

AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific used a quick-strike attack scoring 3 runs in each of its first 2 at-bats to stake its way to a 6-0 lead and eventually a 10-5 GSAC win over the NAIA’s No. 17-ranked Biola in La Mirada.

The win is the Cougars’ fourth in their past 5 games, and it is also their fourth GSAC win in the past 5 conference tilts. It is also their first win in 3 games thus far over the Eagles.

Robbie Lindsey and Shaun Beutner had back-to-back RBI singles in the first inning off Biola starter Jonathan Grijalva as the Cougars plated 3 runs in their first at-bat. Cameron Radonich then led off the second with a solo home run, and Nick Mercado finished the damage with the first of his 3 hits, an RBI double that chased Grijalva (4-3).

Cougar starter Chad Clark worked a solid 5 innings, allowing just 2 earned runs, one of them Sam Orr’s 13th home run of the season. Clark struck out 8 Eagles to pick up his first win as a Cougar.

The Cougars opened up an 8-0 lead in the fourth when Matt Dzama belted his sixth long ball of the season, a 2-run blast. After the Eagles cut the deficit to 8-3, the Cougars answered again. In the fifth, Jake Haaker led off with a solo shot, and Radonich followed with a walk and later scored on an Eagle error to give Azusa Pacific a 10-3 advantage.

Mercado finished 3-for-6 with an RBI and a run. Lindsey and Mark Streelman were both 2-for-5.

With the win, Azusa Pacific improves to 14-13 overall, 9-7 GSAC. Biola falls to 18-7, 8-5.