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Matt Mazzoni pitched eight scoreless innings and Fresno Pacific came away with a 5-1 conference win over The Master's on Thursday. The Sunbirds improved to 12-8, 6-4 in GSAC play.

Mazzoni built on a great outing last weekend with another strong performance, going deeper into a game than any other FPU starter this season and allowing just five hits and no runs while striking out five. The Sunbird hitters had a well-rounded day as seven of the nine starters had base hits.

Meanwhile the Mustangs (13-8, 4-4 GSAC) were victimized by poor defensive play for the second straight day. After making six errors last night, TMC made another four today which forced starting pitcher Tyler Bersano to consistently pitch his way out of jams.

Bersano gave up seven hits and five runs, three of which were earned, in 7 2/3 innings. He held the Sunbirds hitless until the fourth inning, when a ball that probably should have caught fell between three fielders for a double by Tyler Pryor.

Andrew Douglas followed with a single and stole second, before Michael Rivera got the scoring going by roping a two-RBI double to left. Ryan Acevedo would add a double in the gap to right-center to give the Sunbirds a 3-0 lead heading into the 5th.

FPU would have a good chance to score in the 7th, but a double play ended the inning. However the team put together a two-out rally in the 8th. Rivera was hit by a pitch and two Mustang errors that should have ended the inning would load the bases.

Steven Lozier lined a hard shot to the right side that would take a big bounce over the first baseman's head and go for a two-run double to make the score 5-0. The Sunbirds would take that lead into the ninth.

FPU ran into some initial trouble in the ninth as the Mustangs put the first two runners on base, but Aaron Kirkpatrick came in and kept his composure after a potential double-play ball was thrown into left field allowing one run to come across.

Kirkpatrick would strike out the next batter before inducing a game-ending 6-4-3 double play, quickly turned by Alec Mehrten and Douglas.

The Sunbirds are now hoping the momentum from this win carries over to the next two games with the Mustangs in Santa Clarita this Saturday. FPU has struggled on the road this season, going 3-7 including 1-3 in league play. The Saturday doubleheader will begin at 11 am.

Around the GSAC
Concordia (H) 13, Point Loma Nazarene 4
Biola (H) 9, Westmont 7
Azusa Pacific (H) 5, California Baptist 1