Box Score

#13 Fresno Pacific picked just the right time for its biggest offensive outburst of the season. Leading 9-1 in the 4th inning, #9 Biola appeared to have the game in hand, but the Sunbirds teed off on the Eagles' bullpen scoring 16 unanswered runs to win game one 17-9 in a series that could determine the GSAC champion.

Tyler Pryor went 4-for-4 with two home runs and eight RBI in the win and had two of the biggest hits of the night to his credit: a bases-clearing double that gave the team its first lead in the 6th and a three-run homer in the 8th that put the game out of reach.

Scott Laird went 4-for-5 with three runs scored, Andrew Douglas reached base all five plate appearances and scored four times, Trent Soares and Karlan Andrews added two hits apiece and Ryan Acevedo chipped in with a two-run pinch-hit homer.

Biola had the Sunbirds right where they wanted them after some defensive miscues, tough luck, and an off-day by FPU starter Matt Mazzoni led to a 6-run third inning that put the Eagles on top  9-1. That, combined with the fact that Biola had ace-pitcher Kevin Ryan on the mound (who had yet to lose this season) and the Eagles had every reason to believe they'd turned things around after falling out of first place last week.

The Sunbirds had other ideas. With Michael Jimenez keeping the Eagles' bats at bay, the Sunbirds began to slowly but surely mount their largest comeback of the season. FPU loaded the bases in the bottom half of the inning and got a sacrifice fly from Andrews to make it 9-2. Though Ryan got out of that jam, the Sunbirds made him work and it would pay off the next inning.

Laird got it started with a double down the line before Douglas crushed a double to left-center with two outs to score him. Pryor followed with a two-run blast, a towering shot to right, and suddenly the Sunbirds didn't look so out of it with the score 9-5.

The 6th inning would prove to be critical. Biola turned to its bullpen, beginning with righty Jonathan Cade. Singles by Alec Mehrten and Andrews put the pressure right back on the Eagles and when Michael Vaughn placed a perfect bunt to get them over, the Eagle first baseman threw the ball away letting another run score.

Soares then battled his way to a 3-2 count and ripped a single to right to make it 9-7. Laird followed with another sharply hit ball, a single to left, making the score 9-8. Cade was lifted having not recorded an out and the Eagles turned to Bobby O'Neill.

O'Neill got the next batter to pop out but then walked Douglas to load the bases for the night's hottest hitter, Pryor. With a smooth swing, Pryor went opposite field and the ball sailed over the left fielder's head and off the wall. All three runners came in to score and the comeback was officially on as the Sunbirds took the lead 11-9.

Now, with the momentum completely shifted, the Sunbirds would have to hold the lead against a determined Eagles lineup. Jimenez came out for his third inning of work, striking out two batters and stranding a runner on second in the 7th.

After FPU was held scoreless for the first time in three innings, Michael Rivera came on to get the six-out save. He would run into some trouble in the 8th as the Eagles put runners on second and third, but Rivera stranded the game-tying run in scoring position by getting a popout and striking out pinch-hitter Brent Opdyke to end the inning.

Rather than sweat it out in the 9th, the Sunbirds decided to put the game out of reach right then and there, coming through with a six-run 8th inning. It started once again with a hit by Laird and the team proceeded to bat all the way around, getting an RBI double from Wes Dorrell, a line-shot three-run homer from Pryor and a first-pitch, pinch-hit two-run homer from Acevedo.

That made the score 17-9 and Rivera stayed on to complete his save, striking out Eagle leadoff hitter Benji Sutherland swinging to end it. Sutherland led the Eagles with a 3-for-4 night and Drake Fages reached base all five times he batted. Cade took the loss for Biola, falling to 2-2, while Jimenez earned the win for FPU, his first of the season.

The teams entered the day with the same overall record of 25-14. With the win, FPU (19-10 GSAC) is just a half-game out of second place behind the Eagles (19-9 GSAC). The Sunbirds remain two games behind #4 Cal Baptist, who came from behind to defeat Vanguard 7-6 tonight.

FPU and Biola meet up again tomorrow at 3 pm here in Fresno. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1430.

Around the GSAC
Concordia (H) 9, San Diego Christian 0
Concordia (H) 5, San Diego Christian 4
Point Loma Nazarene (H) 14, Westmont 1
Point Loma Nazarene (H) 7, Westmont 6
California Baptist (H) 7, Vanguard 6
Azusa Pacific (H) 8, The Masters 7