JOLIET, Ill. - Biola University's Mac Sullivan belted a three-run home run to cap off a four-run eighth-inning uprising and lead the second-seeded and 13th-ranked Eagles to a 6-2 victory over University of St. Francis in a first-round game of the 2011 NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round Bracket at Silver Cross Field.

The Saints rallied from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game with single runs in the sixth and eighth innings. USF notched its first run on a two-out RBI single by junior right fielder Tom Whelan (St. Rita H.S./Chicago, IL) that scored junior shortstop David Schwabe (Driscoll Catholic H.S./Wood Dale, IL) who reached on a one-out triple.

USF evened the score in the top of the eighth when Schwabe came through with a two-out single that plated pinch-runner Mark Ahern (Homewood-Flossmoor H.S./Homewood, IL) from second base. Ahern was running for sophomore designated hitter Mike Nelson (Joliet Catholic Academy/Homer Glen, IL) who started the inning with a base hit.

Biola got on the board first in the fifth when Eagle first baseman Brian Loard lifted an opposite field home run that scored the game's first two runs. The first of those two tallies was unearned as the runner reached base on a St. Francis error.

USF starting pitcher David Hexdall (Morris H.S./Morris, IL) allowed just three hits and the two runs through seven innings but left in the eighth with one out and two runners on base. He finished the outing with 7.1 innings pitched, allowing only five hits and four runs (three earned), and suffering the tough-luck loss.

Schwabe and Whelan each had two hits to lead St. Francis. Loard and Biola third baseman Drake Fages each led the Eagles with a pair of hits. Fages was credited with driving in the winning run as his single in the eighth made the score 3-2 just prior to Sullivan's long home run that helped Biola pull away.

Biola reliever Kyle Atkins was credited with the win, retiring all four batters he faced. Eagle starter Nick Turner allowed just two earned runs on seven hits in 7.2 innings of work.

USF moves on to an 11 a.m. elimination game Friday morning against Robert Morris University. RMU dropped its opener to Jamestown College (ND) Thursday by a 13-5 score.

Biola plays Friday at 3 p.m. against the winner of Thursday's 7 p.m. tilt between Jamestown and top-seeded and No. 4-ranked Oklahoma Baptist.