LA MIRADA, CALIF. -- A month ago today, Azusa Pacific swept a doubleheader from Biola to move into first place in the GSAC. It seemed to be a severe blow to Biola's chances of defending its GSAC championship. It wasn't though. Today, Biola clinched another GSAC title and host site of the upcoming NAIA West Regional Playoffs with a 3-2 victory over the Cougars.
Biola southpaw pitcher Ben Orr picked up another complete-game victory over the Cougars (his fourth in the past 2 seasons), limiting the Cougars to just 7 hits. Yet, it was his bat that proved to be more damaging to the Cougars' slim GSAC title hopes. Orr snapped a 2-2 tie with a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth and then shut down the Cougars the rest of the way to preserve the victory and the title.
Cougar starter Fritz Maskey, who went all the way in suffering his third defeat in 8 decisions this season, surrendered a pair of runs in the opening frame and then settled down. Azusa Pacific tied the game at 2-2 on a John Knott 2-run homer in the top of the third. The blast to centerfield was his ninth home run of the season. Knott finished the game 2-for-3. All-GSAC catcher Justin Duarte was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
R H E
Azusa Pacific 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 7 2
Biola 2 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 x 3 7 0
Fritz Maskrey (L, 8-3) and Justin Duarte.
Ben Orr (W, 8-3) and Matt Cardamone
3B - Chris Ewing (APU)
HR - John Knott (APU, ninth), Ben Orr (Biola)
