Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

Fresno Pacific knocked #3 Cal Baptist out of first place in the GSAC on Friday, sweeping the #3-ranked Lancers by scores of 6-0 and 4-2 in Fresno. The wins make FPU the first team to take a series from the Lancers this season and earn the Sunbirds the potentially-important tiebreaker with the Lancers as well.

In a battle between the league's top-ranked offense (CBU) and top pitching staff (FPU), Sunbird pitchers continued to baffle the Lancer lineup as they did earlier in the week. Aaron Lynn was locked in for the Sunbirds, taking a perfect game into the seventh and finishing with a two-hit shutout.

Ryan Castadio followed that up with a strong performance in game two, as the Sunbirds got some key hits, a home run from Andrew Douglas, and capitalized on CBU mistakes in the 4-2 win. Michael Rivera came on to earn the save.

The Sunbirds came to play in game one, dominating all facets of the game and proving why they're arguably the conference's best team. Wes Dorrell and Alec Mehrten each had three hits. Douglas, Tyler Pryor and Trent Soares also had multi-hit games, and Rivera delivered the day's biggest hit: a bases clearing 3-RBI double that broke the game open in the 5th inning.

The Lancers on the other hand had absolutely no answer for Lynn, who retired the first 18 batters in order before walking the first batter in the 7th. A Josh Manzano single to center field broke up the no-hitter in the 8th and the Lancers would load the bases after another walk and a lightly-hit infield single.

Lynn worked a full count to Luke Esquerra, and got out of the jam as the CBU hitter went down swinging. Lynn finished with nine strikeouts in the game and was the second FPU starter in three days to two-hit the Lancers (Jesse Darrah).

CBU's team batting average dropped from .307 to .292 after the four-game series with the Sunbirds and Lancer hitters struck out 35 times in the four games. FPU also handed two CBU starting pitchers their first loss of the season.

Devyn Rivera came in undefeated with a 2.27 ERA as the game two starter for the Lancers, but was quickly touched up for three runs in the first.

Soares, who did a tremendous job of setting the table with great at-bats all day, drew a leadoff walk. Scott Laird would also work a walk and Dorrell doubled to left center to get FPU on the board. Laird would score on an RBI-groundout by Douglas and the Sunbirds would add one more when a wild pitch on a strikeout extended the inning and allowed Dorrell to score from third.

That would be enough to get the Sunbirds through the rest of the game, though Douglas added a monster-shot in the third to make it 4-0. CBU would scrape two runs across, but Rivera came on in the 6th and picked off a runner to end the inning, then closed out the ninth for his fourth save.

FPU improves to 17-9, 11-5 GSAC, with the win and has won eight of its last nine. Cal Baptist falls to 24-7, 11-5 in GSAC play. The teams are tied atop the standings, though Biola (10-3) could move into first tomorrow with a sweep of San Diego Christian.

The Sunbirds' next game is this Wednesday at home against #8 Point Loma Nazarene. The Sea Lions began the year with a high ranking but have struggled with a 5-8 record in conference play. That game will be a doubleheader with an 11 am start.