Box Score

Fresno Pacific struggled to get things going offensively, getting one run across in the fourth but failing to score after that in a 5-1 loss at San Francisco State on Friday.

It was the season opener for the NCAA Division 2 Gators, who got 7 strong innings from starting pitcher Steven Dea. FPU countered with Aaron Lynn who gave up two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings in his first start since 2009.

"We didn't have a good approach at the plate," said FPU coach Oscar Hirschkorn afterward. "Aaron Lynn gave us a really good start today, especially considering how long it's been since he threw in a game. We had too many fly-ball outs and need to have a better approach moving forward."

The 15th-ranked Sunbirds managed six hits, striking first in the top of the fourth to take a 1-0 lead after a Michael Rivera double and an RBI-single by Alec Mehrten. Rivera's double would be the only extra-base hit of the game though and the Gators would answer in the bottom of the inning to tie it.

SFSU tacked on a run in the fifth and the sixth to lead 3-1, before adding two insurance runs in the bottom of the 8th. The Gators scored five runs on eleven hits, all of them singles. Dea earned the win and Matthew Cummings struck out three in the final two innings to earn the save.

Tyler Pryor went 2-for-4 for the Sunbirds, the only player to finish with more than one hit. FPU (1-1) will get another crack at the Gators tomorrow as the teams play a doubleheader beginning at 11 am.