Cougar Rally Puts Them Alone In GSAC Lead

AZUSA, Calif. -- Azusa Pacific, ranked No. 15 in the NAIA, pushed it's winning streak to 6straight with 3 runs in its last 2 at bats to rally from a 3-2 deficit and beat Biola, 5-3, and a Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) game in Azusa, Tuesday afternoon.

With the score tied at 3, junior outfielder Jake Spahr lined a 1-out pinch-hit single along the left field foul line to score Jason Young from second base and put the Cougars up 4-3. Two batters later, designated hitter Dirk Lewallyn grounded a 2-out single into right field to score Hondo Godinez to give the Cougars breathing room at 5-3.

Chad Arko came on in relief of Fritz Maskrey, who allowed just for hits over 7 innings, and pitch 2 innings of shut out baseball to pick up the win. James Berger suffered a loss in relief of Steve Rogers for Biola.

Rogers and Maskrey were near perfect through 4 innings. Jonathan Jay's 1-out solo home run over the right field fence in the fifth inning to put the Eagles up 1-0. The Cougars answered in the bottom of the fifth when Lewallen lined his second home run of the season over the right field fence, scoring Steve Esquivel ahead of him to put the Cougars up 2-1.

Biola answered and it's next at-bat when Shane Logeais lined a 2-out double off the centerfield fence to score Scott Tablot and Rand Wagner, to put the Eagles back up at 3-2.

Azusa Pacific knotted the score at when Esquibel led off the seventh inning with a double, moved to third on a Jay passed ball, and then scored on Rogers' 2-out wild pitch.

The victory pushes Azusa Pacific's record to 8–3 overall and 3-0 in the GSAC, a half game ahead of idle southern California College and Cal Baptist. Biola falls to 6-2 overall, 0-1 in the GSAC.

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Players Mentioned

#5 Hondo Godinez: INF; 5' 9"; Junior; L/R

#8 Jason Young: INF; 5' 9"; Senior; R/R

#12 Chad Arko: P; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#20 Jake Spahr: OF; 5' 9"; Junior; L/L

#21 Fritz Maskrey: P; 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R

Players Mentioned

#5 Hondo Godinez
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/R
: INF

#8 Jason Young
: 5' 9"; Senior; R/R
: INF

#12 Chad Arko
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: P

#20 Jake Spahr
: 5' 9"; Junior; L/L
: OF

#21 Fritz Maskrey
: 6' 2"; Sophomore; R/R
: P