Biola 11
Azusa Pacific 8

AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA’s No. 6-ranked Biola scored 3 runs in the top of the ninth inning to lift its way to an 11-8 GSAC baseball win at Azusa Pacific Wednesday.

With the win, Biola improves to 12-2 overall, 6-1 GSAC. Azusa Pacific suffers its seventh loss in the past 8 games and falls to 9-7 overall, 1-5 GSAC.

After Carl Galloway led off the ninth by getting hit by Ryan Marcos’ first pitch, the Eagles strung together 3 straight 1-out singles and took advantage of a passed ball and a Cougar miscue on a throw to the plate to score 3 runs (2 unearned) not only breaking an 8-8 tie but taking an 11-8 lead.

The Cougars had to play catch-up all day, and catch up is what they did. Biola came out smoking with 7 runs in its first 2 at-bats to take a 7-0 lead. The Eagles hit 4 home runs—a pair of 2-run shots in the first off Cougar starter Brandon Sisk, and a pair of solo shots in the second off reliever Scott Hodsdon.

Glenn Hedgpeth finished 3-for-4 with a pair of RBIs, and he put the Cougars on the board with a solo home run, his sixth of the season, in the second. At that point, Hodsdon settled down and put up 4 straight scoreless innings, allowing the Cougars to chip away.

Robbie Lindsey was 2-for-5 with 4 RBIs. He hit a 2-RBI double to deep center to make it 7-3 in the third. Stephen Vogt belted his second home run of the season, a 2-run shot in the fifth to bring the Cougars within 7-5. Vogt also doubled in the seventh off Biola ace Reid Hamblet, who came on in relief, putting runners on second and third with no outs. Lindsey then added an RBI groundout to third and Hedgpeth squibbed a single past a drawn in infield to tie the game at 7.

Matt Parrish put Biola back on top in the eighth with a 2-out RBI single off reliever Johnny Soberal, but the Cougars answered right back. Nick Mercado led off with a single. Cameron Radonich walked. Vogt grounded into a double play that moved Mercado to third, and then Lindsey tied the game again with his third hit of the day.

The Cougars had a golden opportunity to blow the game wide open in the seventh. After tying the game at 7, they had the bases loaded and just 1 out. However, Biola reliever Paul Gausepohl struck out Derek Wohlers, and then Travis Lange induced Jeff Staniland into and groundout to first to end the threat.

Vogt finished with 2 hits and 2 RBIs. Radonich also finished with 2 hits and 2 runs.

Marcos took the loss in relief, surrendering 3 runs (1 earned) in the ninth. Sal Poti picked up his first win of the season for the Eagles. He worked a scoreless 1.1 innings.