Box Score

It took 14 innings but #13 Fresno Pacific came away with another victory over #9 Biola, getting a rare walk-off wild pitch in the 14th to win 3-2.

Michael Vaughn broke out of a slump, going 3-for-5 and getting the key hit to start the bottom of the 14th. The Sunbirds used 21 players in the victory, including six pitchers after Jesse Darrah turned in a quality start in a pitchers' duel with Biola's Alex Brueske, a sharp contrast from yesterday's 17-9 slugfest.

Biola, after trailing the entire game, got one run in the 7th and then a game-tying solo homer from Brian Loard in the 9th to make the score 2-2.

After failing to capitalize on chances in the 11th, 12th and 13th, the Sunbirds got what they needed when Vaughn drove a single to right on the first pitch in the 14th. Matt Cronin came on to pinch-run and Biola pitcher Bobby O'Neill, looking for a pickoff, misfired and threw the ball into right field advancing Cronin all the way to third.

Trent Soares was intentionally walked to set things up for Scott Laird, but the first pitch was in the dirt and got past the catcher scoring Cronin easily to end it.

Ryan Castadio, slated to start on the mound this Saturday, got the win by throwing one scoreless inning of relief. Kyle Lovero and Michael Jimenez helped keep the Eagle bats in check during extra innings until the Sunbirds scored.

Darrah looked good in seven innings of work, walking just one giving up five hits and one run while striking out five. Brueske was just as effective for the Eagles, working eight innings and allowing two runs despite giving up nine hits.

Soares gave FPU the early lead in the 3rd inning with a sac fly scoring Karlan Andrews, who had doubled. Tyler Pryor put the team up 2-0 in the 6th with an RBI double to left center which scored Andrew Douglas.

The rest of the game would feature high-drama as runs were tough to come by. Michael Rivera got a huge strikeout of Biola slugger Drake Fages in the top of the 8th with the Eagles threatening a 2-1 Sunbird lead.

Biola came right back though and tied it on the second pitch of the 9th inning with Loard's shot to left. FPU would strand two runners in the 11th, despite Aaron Lynn's pinch-hit single, then had a very good chance in the 13th that didn't materialize after a sac-bunt attempt got the lead-runner out.

The win puts the #13 Sunbirds at 20-10 in GSAC play, 27-14 overall and improves them to 17-3 at home. Biola fell to 19-10 in conference play, 25-16 overall. Cal Baptist remains in first place with another win over Vanguard. The Lancers are two games ahead of the Sunbirds, though FPU owns the tiebreaker.

Biola and FPU meet up again this Saturday in La Mirada for a doubleheader beginning at noon.

Around the GSAC
Today's Scores
#4 Cal Baptist (H) 7, Vanguard 0
The Masters 8, Azusa Pacific (H) 3

Saturday's Schedule
Azusa Pacific at The Masters – DH, 12:00 pm
#4 Cal Baptist at Vanguard, 12:00 pm
Concordia at San Diego Christian – DH, 12:00 pm
#13 Fresno Pacific at #9 Biola – DH, 12:00 pm
Point Loma Nazarene at Westmont – DH, 12:00 pm