Boxscore
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Biola (Calif.) was just one strike away from surviving and advancing in the 2012 NAIA National Championship Opening Round on Friday afternoon, but Chris Dykes had other ideas, delivering a two-out, two-RBI single through the left side of Biola's defense to allow Southern Poly (Ga.) to eliminate the Eagles, 9-8. Biola finishes the 2012 season at 26-29, while the Hornets improve to 36-24 and will play Siena Heights (Mich.) tonight at 6 p.m. in another elimination contest.
The Eagles jumped out to an early and large 6-1 lead with three-run spots in both the first and second to stake starter Chris Baek to a sizable cushion. Nick Covyeau drove in two runs in the first frame, while three Biola batters collected an RBI in the third, and SPSU starter Casey Shiver looked to be in trouble.
Hornets' left fielder Charlie Boring kept his team in the game with a three-run homer to left off of Baek in the third inning, cutting the Biola lead to 6-4.
Baek was masterful from the fourth through the eighth, rarely allowing the Hornets to reach base. Biola added a run in the sixth to extend their lead to 7-4.
The Hornets' rally started with a pinch hit single from Brandon Roberts. A single chased Baek from the game, but his reliever, J.T. Mickelson saw the game slip away, the big hit coming off the bat of Dykes.
Biola attempted to make it interesting in their half of the ninth, cutting into the 9-7 lead with a single run, but SPSU's Kevin Bible got a ground ball to second that was flipped to first for the final out of the game.
Boring ended the game with four RBIs, while Dykes added two of his own. David Gibson earned the win to improve to 5-3, while Bible recorded his third save of the year.
