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Box Score 2

Fresno Pacific (15-9, 9-5 GSAC) split a doubleheader with #3 Cal Baptist (24-5, 11-3 GSAC) on Wednesday as Jesse Darrah shut down the first-place Lancers in game one, before CBU came from behind to event things up in the second game.

Game One
Jesse Darrah pitched a gem on Wednesday, throwing a two-hit shutout and striking out 12 to lead Fresno Pacific to a 3-0 victory in game one of a doubleheader against #3 Cal Baptist.

The Lancers came in with a league-high .307 team batting average and their ace Taylor Siemens on the mound. But Darrah was up to the challenge as he faced just two batters more than the minimum, walking none and leaving CBU hitters dazed and confused.

Wes Dorrell and Michael Vaughn each homered off Siemens, who came in with a 1.60 ERA and threw eight innings. Dorrell finished 3-for-4 and extended his hitting streak to 17 games, while Vaughn, Michael Rivera and Alec Mehrten each finished with two hits to help keep the Lancers off-balance all game.

With Darrah showing signs of dominance early on, the Sunbirds simply needed to get some runs on the board. Vaughn would connect on a pitch from Siemens in the third for a solo homer, the second game in a row he's gone deep.

Vaughn helped the team extend the lead to 2-0 in the 5th, singling up the middle to score Mehrten. Dorrell would drive a homer to right in the 8th to make it 3-0.

Darrah never really ran into any trouble, as the two hits he gave up were both singles and no runner made it past first base.

Game Two
Cal Baptist 4, FPU 3.

The Sunbirds led into the bottom of the 7th but CBU tacked on two runs late and a ninth-inning rally by FPU would fall short.

Leading 3-2 with two outs in the 7th, FPU would see the Lancers tie it on a home run by Zach Esquerra, his 12th of the year. Matt Mazzoni went seven innings for the Sunbirds and struck out nine, giving up three runs and leaving with the game tied at 3.

The Lancers would take the lead in the 8th on a 2-out rally when John Manzano doubled down the right field line and the Sunbirds were down to their final three outs.

Karlan Andrews came through with a pinch-hit single to start things off and after a groundout and a walk, FPU had runners on first and second with one out. Wes Dorrell lined out to right, advancing Andrews to third, but seeing his 17-game hit-streak come to an end.

Andrew Douglas, who'd been on a tear all game with a 3-for-3 performance and home run, was walked to load the bases with two outs for Tyler Pryor. CBU would bring in its top lefty reliver, Jesse Areolla and the move paid off as Pryor grounded into a fielder's choice with the second baseman throwing to second for the force just before Douglas could get there.

Michael Jimenez took the loss for FPU, though he didn't give up any hits in 2/3 of an inning. CBU starter Drew Madrigal went 7 2/3 innings and gave up two earned runs while striking out six, but reliver Patrick Smith would earn the win.

The two teams meet again on Friday for a doubleheader, this time in Fresno, beginning at 1 pm.