A pitching gem from Steve Winnick and a timely triple from Wes Kartch helped PLNU defeat Biola 2-1 on Monday at Carroll B. Land Stadium. The seven-inning game was a makeup for a rained-out contest earlier this season.

With two outs and a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning of the seven-inning game, extra innings looked like a good possibility. But Rashad Taylor singled, extending the inning for Kartch who hit a shot to the wall down the right field line for a stand-up RBI triple.

Winnick remained in the game, getting a strikeout and two groundouts to complete a two-hit, 0-earned run performance. The Sea Lion starter struck out five and improved to 6-1 on the year with the complete-game win.

Biola starter Alex Brueske scattered nine Sea Lion hits, giving up two runs over six innings. He was hung with the loss, falling to 4-3.

PLNU got the scoring going in the bottom of the second when Kevin Newburg doubled to score Kartch, who had singled and stole second. The Eagles evened up the score in the next frame, using two throwing errors by PLNU shortstop Tyler Kuehl and an infield single by Vinnie Fayard to get a run across.

The Sea Lions got two-hit performances from Kartch, Taylor and catcher Drew Bernhard, and finally got the big hit they needed with Kartch's triple in the 6th.

PLNU improved to 14-6 in the GSAC, while the Eagles fell to 11-9. The Sea Lions are back in action tomorrow when they host Sioux Falls (SD) at 3 p.m. for the first of a three-game set with the visiting Cougars. USF comes in with a record of 14-6.

-Jeremiah Wood