Box Score

Andrew Douglas hit a 3-run homer in the 9th inning to lift #13 FPU past CSU Stanislaus 6-3 in Turlock on Tuesday. Douglas finished 2-for-4 as the Sunbirds (25-14) scored two in the 8th and three in the ninth to complete the come-from-behind victory.

Greg Kilgore earned the win for the Sunbirds, throwing three scoreless frames out of the bullpen, including striking out five straight and allowing the team to gain some momentum which translated into runs.

Trailing 3-1 in the top of the 8th Douglas went opposite-field, doubling down the right-field line to put runners on second and third. Michael Rivera's sacrifice fly scored Scott Laird before Douglas stole third to bring the tying run 90 feet away.

Ryan Acevedo, who went 3-for-4 on the day, would single him home to tie it. Kilgore then set the tone for the 9th by striking out all three Warrior batters swinging in the bottom of the 8th.

With one out, Alex Santacruz got the rally going by singling to left. Karlan Andrews was hit by a pitch and Laird flew out for the second out. Douglas stepped in and on the first pitch gave the offense the shot in the arm it'd been waiting for, taking another pitch opposite field, this time over the right field wall.

The Warriors would load the bases in the bottom of the 9th, but Kilgore got the last two batters to fly out, earning his first collegiate win. Rivera and Andrews each finished 2-for-4, along with Douglas.

Kyle Lovero started the game for the Sunbirds and both teams were held scoreless until the 5th when the Warriors put three on the board. The Sunbirds got one back in the top of the 6th when Rivera drove in Andrews, who'd singled and stole second.

Leonard Giammonco took the loss for CSUS, giving up the home run to Douglas. Centerfielder David Contreras led the Warrior lineup with a 3-for-4 day.

FPU now turns its attention to a more important foe, #9 Biola. The Eagles had spent the last few weeks in first place in the GSAC before #4 Cal Baptist took three of four games from them to regain the top spot. It's a three-team race for the GSAC crown, with FPU (18-10) two games behind Cal Baptist (20-8) and the Lancers a half-game ahead of Biola (19-8).

The Sunbirds hold the potential tiebreaker with Cal Baptist (taking 3 of 4) and CBU now holds it over Biola after last week's series. That makes this week's series all the more critical.

It begins tomorrow night at FPU with game one at 5 pm. The second game will be played Thursday here at 3 pm, before the teams travel to La Mirada for a Saturday doubleheader.