BOX SCORE
LA MIRADA, Calif. -- Biola designated hitter Brent Opdyke hit a walk-off homerun to give the hosts Eagles a 7-5 win over Point Loma Nazarene Monday afternoon. The loss drops the Sea Lions to 23-17 overall, 18-14 GSAC. The Eagles are now 28-16 overall, 22-10 GSAC.
Sophomore Jack Archie started on the mound and promptly retired the first two batters. But a two-out rally consisting of back-to-back doubles would be just enough for the Eagles to score a run first. The Sea Lions struck right back the next inning, with three singles in a row from Edgar Molina, Rashad Taylor, and Clinton Harwick, resulting in a run of their own.
Archie only made one mistake in the bottom of the second and, unfortunately, it resulted in a run. On his second pitch, the first batter of the inning, catcher Brian Loard, lifted a homerun over the left field fence. A ground out, pop up, trivial single, and a fly out would get Archie out of the inning shortly after.
The top half of the third inning was more of the same—full of hitting. Two singles in a row would put Tyler Kuehl and Scott Stidham on. With two outs, pitcher Kevin Ryan was told to intentionally walk Molina—only to face Taylor with the bases loaded. No matter how hard the Eagles tried, they couldn't avoid what would happen next. On a full count, Taylor went opposite and singled through the right side—the perfect way to get two runs in.
With the Sea Lions in the lead 3-2, no one would score again until the bottom of the fifth when Loard homered again, this time pulling in two runs. Much like the first time, Archie easily retired two batters, but a walk in between and one bad pitch to Loard put the Eagles in the lead again.
Point Loma returned with two more runs to take the lead back from Biola, but it was a bit messier than previous innings. A double, hit batter, fielder's choice, and a single would score the first run. Two wild pitches from new hurler Cameron McVey would put runners in scoring position. Jack Diamond worked a walk to load up the bases, and Allen Boyer's sacrifice fly out scored the second run.
Maurice Wilhelm replaced Archie in the bottom of the sixth and immediately got the first batter looking on three straight strikes. Unfortunately the early success was not a good indication of what the rest of the inning would look like. A double and two singles later the Eagles tied up the ball game. Chris Gonzalez came in to relieve Wilhelm, and quickly got a double-play ball to end the inning.
Biola's McVey didn't allow a single base runner in the top of the sixth. A ground out, strike out, and fly out gave the Eagles another chance at the plate.
In just five pitches Gonzalez retired the first two batters, bringing up the dangerous Loard. While he didn't hit another homerun, on a 2-2 count, the catcher singled through the left side. Up to the plate was designated hitter Opdyke, who had previously grounded out three times. He would only have one hit in four at bats, but it was the most important of the game. On a 0-1 count, Opdyke hit a two-run shot to give Biola a 7-5 victory.
Gonzalez was handed the loss after an inning and a third. His record drops to 2-3. Archie threw five innings, allowing seven hits and four runs, while Wilhelm tossed one third of an inning, letting up three hits and one run.
Biola's McVey earned the win, evening his record to 2-2.
Point Loma will host San Diego Christian tomorrow at 3 pm for a non-conference matchup.
