SAN DIEGO – Eagle third baseman Drake Fages hit a two-out, two-run homerun in the top of the ninth to snap a 3-3 tie between Point Loma Nazarene and Biola Thursday afternoon at Carroll B. Land Stadium. The Sea Lions pushed across one run in the bottom of the inning and had the tying run at third with one out but PLNU could not convert on the opportunity and lost 5-4.

Chris Gonzales got the starting call on the mound for the Green and Gold Thursday and did a solid job. The Eagles scored an unearned run in their first at-bat to take a 1-0 lead but Sea Lion left fielder Bryan Burkhead slammed a solo homer in the second to tie the game.

PLNU pushed across two runs in the third to go up 3-1. JJ Reading and Tyler Hanzawa both walked to start the frame with Reading scoring on a double from Clinton Harwick. Hanzawa advanced to third on the two-bagger and later came home on a groundout from Ricky Gingras.

Biola hurler Chris Baek escaped more damage when Trey Hunt lined into a 4-3 double play.

The Eagles evened the game at 3-3 with two runs in the fourth, capped off by a two-out bloop hit from Paul Slater that was nearly gloved by Harwick in shallow left field.

The scoring came to a halt for the next few frames. Gonzales did get into trouble in the sixth but Josh Dexheimer was called in from the pen and got the next two outs.

Dexheimer, in fact sent down 11 of 12 batters he faced, including the first two in the ninth before allowing a single to Vinnie Fayard and the blast to dead center from Fages.

Baek started the ninth and got one out before walking Hanzawa. J.T. Mikelson took the ball for the Eagles after the free pass. That decision looked like it might be a bad one for Biola when Harwick and Gingras both singled. The latter hit plated Hanzawa and a bobble from the BU rightfielder allowed Harwick to get all the way to third.

Unfortunately for Point Loma, Burkhead struck out and Hunt lined sharply to right for outs two and three.

Dexheimer (2-2) was hung with the loss with Baek (5-4) earning the win and Mikelson picking up his third save.

PLNU (16-26, 8-17 GSAC) is sitting in last place in the conference standings. With just seven games remaining in the regular season, the Sea Lions need to put together a long win streak or they will miss the postseason (GSAC tournament) for the first time since 2001.

Biola improved to 20-23 overall, 13-12 conference with the win.

The same two teams will be back in action in San Diego on Friday for the second tilt of their four-game series. First pitch is slated for 3:00 pm.