Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box
After two dramatic wins over #9 Biola during the week, #13 Fresno Pacific couldn't quite get it to carry over in Saturday's road doubleheader. The Sunbirds came back from a 6-0 deficit in game one, but would fall 7-6 in 10 innings. Things went downhill from there as the Eagles handed FPU a 13-4 loss in game two.
Tyler Pryor continued to swing a hot bat for the Sunbirds, finishing a combined 3-for-7 with a home run and four runs scored in the two games. However the Sunbirds struggled with pitching and defense giving up a total of 20 runs on the day and making five errors.
In game one the Sunbirds had a hard time solving Biola starter Nick Turner, who didn't allow a hit until the fourth and was scoreless through six.
Aaron Lynn coasted through the first four innings as well, but the Biola lineup put together a string of hits combined with FPU errors to go up 5-0 in the 5th.
Another error allowed Biola to take a 6-0 lead, but the Sunbirds battled back in the 7th putting together a two-out rally. Pryor was first to reach with a single and
Alec Mehrten kept it going with two outs. They would both come around to score on a throwing error by the pitcher.
Trent Soares added a two-run double later in the inning to make it a 6-4 game.
Greg Kilgore held down the Biola bats for 2 2/3 innings of relief and the Sunbirds would tie it up in the 8th.
Andrew Douglas got on and stole second, then scored on a single by Pryor to make it 6-5. The Sunbirds would knock Turner from the game and
Karlan Andrews tied it soon after with an RBI single to center.
The Sunbirds missed their chance though as they stranded the bases loaded in that inning.
Michael Jimenez came in and pitched two strong innings for FPU, but the offense couldn't generate a run in the 9th or 10th.
An error in the outfield allowed Biola to put the leadoff hitter on the bottom of the 10th. That put a man on second with no outs and
Matt Mazzoni made a rare appearance out of the bullpen, in a tough spot. It didn't get any better when a planned sacrifice bunt was beat out putting two on, forcing FPU to walk the next batter and bring in the infield and Soares from center.
The Sunbirds got a groundout to force the runner at home for the first out, but the next batter, Mac Sullivan, drove a single to left center to end the game in the Eagles' favor.
FPU ran out of gas in game two. The Eagles jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first off FPU starter
Ryan Castadio. A Mehrten double and Andrews 2-RBI single helped FPU get back within one, but the Eagles tacked on another run in the bottom half.
Soares brought the Sunbirds as close as they would come with a solo homer to make it 4-3 but Biola's Brian Loard answered for the Eagles in the bottom half to bring it back to a two-run game.
The Eagles would take a commanding lead in the 4th when Boone Farrington launched a three-run shot to put them up 8-3. Pryor hit a solo home run in the next inning but the Sunbirds stranded two runners in scoring position.
Biola broke the game open from there with five runs in the bottom of the 6th. Both Michael Andrews and Loard went 4-for-4 for the Eagles. Boone Farrington, returning from injury, finished 5-for-7 with five RBI on the day. Kyle Atkins didn't throw particularly well, but got the win for Biola. Castadio dropped to 5-3 with the loss.
With the loss FPU falls back into third place in the GSAC with a conference record of 20-12 (27-16 overall). Biola is now 21-10 and back in second place, trailing Cal Baptist (23-9) by a game and a half.
The Sunbirds wrap up the regular season next week with a four-game series against last-place San Diego Christian. They'll play two games on Wednesday in El Cajon, followed by a Saturday doubleheader in Fresno at noon.
Around the GSAC
The Masters (H) 12, Azusa Pacific 4
The Masters (H) 2, Azusa Pacific 0
#4 Cal Baptist 7, Vanguard (H) 3
Vanguard (H) 4, #4 Cal Baptist 2
Concordia 4, San Diego Christian (H) 0
Concordia 8, San Diego Christian (H) 5
Point Loma Nazarene 12, Westmont (H) 7
Point Loma Nazarene 5, Westmont (H) 4
