The bats were on full display in the first game on a beautifully sunny afternoon in Orange County, as several members of the Pride had terrific ballgames. BU struck first, in the top of the opening frame, using two walks and a single to score off Vanguard starter Lance Abbott to take a one-run cushion. However, Biola's game-one starter Bobby O'Neill struggled with his command early, and the hosts did not allow him to finish the first inning. 

 

Zach Leighton opened the game with a walk and was sacrificed to second, bringing up Eric Krzysiak.  Krzysiak, the GSAC leader in batting average, doubled to score Leighton. After O'Neill got Kip Masuda to line out, the Blue and Gold put on a clinic of how to mount a two-out rally. Using three more walks, all intentional, a hit batter, a Biola error, and two timely knocks, the Lions put a five-spot on the board before O'Neill could exit with the bases loaded. His replacement, Karl Stuck, came in to face VU left fielder Brandon Young. Young promptly hammered a Stuck offering over the right field wall for a grand slam, and the Lions led 9-1. 

 

Vanguard did not take the proverbial foot off the gas in the second frame, as the hosts scored six more runs, again all coming with two outs. The Lions continued to pour it on, scoring three more runs in the fourth inning, and two in the fifth. Nursing the large advantage, Abbott pitched confidently for six innings, giving up five runs to the Eagles. VU's Braulio Archer pitched one inning of no-hit ball and gave way to Ryan Pauly, who got the final six outs while giving up three runs.

 

Vanguard hammered 21 hits in the game, and took advantage of nine walks from the Eagle staff. Young led the way, going 3-3 with two home runs and seven RBI. Krzysiak also had himself a day, going 5-6 with three RBI of his own. Masuda and Tyson Leighton both stroked three hits apiece, and each had a pair of RBI. Abbott earned his second win of the season, while O'Neill took the loss.

 

Vanguard fell behind early in the second contest of the twin bill, as starter Javier Perez was chased for seven runs, six earned, in three innings of work. Trailing 4-0 in the third inning, VU got on the scoreboard with another RBI from Young. However, Biola bounced back in the top of the fourth frame, scoring four more runs off Perez and reliever Peter Birdwell to take an 8-1 lead. 

 

Again, the hosts battled back in the bottom of the fourth, using RBIs from Brandon Pesante, Brett Halstead, and Zach Leighton to trim the Eagle lead to 8-4. Vanguard pushed another run across in the fifth, on a Jason Dovel single that brought in Keegan Freeman. Facing a three-run deficit entering the bottom of the seventh and final inning, the Lions mounted one last push. Masuda walked, and was advanced on a Tyson Leighton single. Billy Hamilton grounded out to plate Masuda and trim the Eagle lead to 8-6. However, Dovel, who represented the tying run, fouled out with two outs and Leighton on third base, sealing the win for Biola.

 

Perez took the loss for VUSC, while Biola pitcher Mike Frisina earned the win. Garrett Leon led the visitors in the second contest with three RBI. The Blue and Gold were paced by Dovel and Tyson Leighton, who had two hits apiece.

 

Biola now sports a GSAC record of 11-8, with a 17-9 mark overall. Vanguard moves to 16-4 in conference play, 25-6 overall with the split, taking three of the four games from the Eagles. VU will soon find out if the body of work over the first two months of the season has been enough to crack the top-25, as the poll is released on March 30. The Lions will have a few days off before welcoming La Sierra University on April 1. First pitch is set for 3:00 p.m.