Box Score

Jesse Darrah struck out six in five scoreless innings and combined with FPU relievers on a three-hit shutout of #10 British Columbia in a 5-0 Sunbird win on Thursday.

The Sunbird lineup benefited from the return of Andrew Douglas, who drove in two runs, and the team got two hits apiece from Alec Mehrten and Trent Soares. Karlan Andrews got the start in the leadoff spot and delivered with two runs scored and an RBI, setting the tone for an FPU offense that did a good job of manufacturing runs when players got on base.

In perhaps the biggest game of the early-season schedule, featuring two top-15 NAIA programs, both teams sent their ace to the mound, as UBC countered Darrah with hard-throwing lefty Sheldon McDonald.

But while Darrah struck out three batters in the first, McDonald ran into some early trouble. Andrews battled his way to a 3-2 count and a leadoff single, then stole second and took third on a wild pitch. Douglas crushed a ball to right that went for a sacrifice fly, easily scoring Andrews from third.

Darrah would continue to baffle UBC hitters in the second, striking out two more. Mehrten then gave the Sunbirds another leadoff hit and Soares followed with a single of his own. FPU would load the bases and though they were unable to get the big hit, did get another run across on a sac fly by Andrews.

With a 2-0 lead to work with, Darrah continued to mix speeds and use his fastball well, giving up his first hit of the season in the third but never allowing the Thunderbirds to get good contact.

The Sunbirds would take a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the 5th as Andrews helped manufacture a run once again with walk and a stolen base. Douglas then blasted a double down the left field line, giving the Sunbirds a long-awaited hit with a runner in scoring position.

With Darrah's day over after the fifth inning, it would be up to the Sunbird bullpen to maintain the lead. The team turned to Greg Kilgore in the 6th, who promptly induced a grounder to third and struck out the next batter.

The Sunbirds would finish out the game with a pair of freshman arms, getting quality innings from lefites Steven Lozier and Aaron Kirkpatrick. Lozier struck out three of the four hitters he faced and Kirkpatrick, pitching in his first college game, struck out two in two scoreless innings to preserve the shutout. David Hawes aided Kirkpatick with an exceptional leaping catch at second base in the 8th.

FPU would add its last two runs in the 6th inning, getting another leadoff single from Mehrten, followed by a double from Soares. Scott Laird delivered an RBI single and Soares would later score on a double play.

The Thunderbirds, who began their season yesterday with a win at Simpson College, fall to 1-1 on the season. FPU evens up its record at 3-3.

The Sunbirds travel to the coast this weekend for a three-game series with CSU Monterey Bay, beginning tomorrow at 2 pm. CSUMB is 0-4 this season, losing a three-game series with Sonoma State and falling 7-6 to Biola today.