Box Score
#15 Fresno Pacific used a seven-run fourth inning to erase early deficit and defeat CSU Monterey Bay 10-5 on Friday. The Sunbirds (4-3) trailed 4-1 until the fourth, when the lineup broke out of its recent slump in a big way, with a string of timely hits.
Scott Laird went 3-for-5, Trent Soares had two hits and three RBI, and Michael Vaughn and Wes Dorrell added two hits apiece in the victory. The seven-run outburst gave starting pitcher Aaron Lynn more than enough insurance runs to work with as he settled down to throw six strong innings and earn the win.
Lynn had a rough first inning, surrendering a two-run double and giving up the pitching staff's first home run of the season, a two-run blast by Alex Mangubat.
That regained the lead for CSUMB, who had fallen behind in the first inning after a Michael Rivera RBI single scored Tyler Pryor.
The Sunbirds trailed 4-1 after three frames, but would get to Otter starter Aaron Appino in his second time through the order. The big inning would be started off by a single up the middle by Alec Mehrten. A Laird single and walk by Vaughn loaded the bases for Soares who delivered with a two-run double to centerfield.
That hit would knock Appino out of the game as the Otters turned to their bullpen to hold the lead. Pryor drew a walk though to reload the bases and Andrew Douglas was hit by a pitch, tying the game at four. Dorrell then gave the Sunbirds the lead with a single up the middle and after the second out was made, Mehrten drew a walk to score one more.
The Sunbirds then got another big hit as Karlan Andrews drove a double to left, scoring two more and putting FPU up 8-4.
That would prove to be all the Sunbirds would need, but the team would tack on two more runs in the seventh after a double by Laird, who was driven in by Soares. FPU added one more when Vaughn scored on a wild pitch.
Greg Kilgore pitched well in relief for the second straight day, keeping the Otters at bay with four strikeouts in two innings of work.
The Sunbirds would get a brief scare in the ninth as the Otters loaded the bases with no outs, but Michael Jimenez came in and slammed the door, striking out the next batter and then inducing a game-ending double play.
The Sunbirds take on the Otters again for a doubleheader tomorrow, beginning at 11 am.
