Game 1 Box
Game 2 Box

A leadoff home run by Trent Soares was all the Fresno Pacific lineup could muster on Saturday against Azusa Pacific. It would hold up for a 1-0 win in game one thanks to Aaron Lynn's pitching, but the Cougars would take the second game 7-0.

FPU (22-12, 16-8 GSAC) managed just three hits in the first game and five in the second, being held scoreless for the next 15 innings after Soares' first-inning shot to right. The game two loss was just the second home loss of the season for the Sunbirds, who are 14-2 in Fresno.

Lynn was up to the challenge of carrying the team though, outdueling APU starter Ben Ruder who tossed eight inning of three-hit ball but earned the loss. Lynn bounced back from a tough outing in San Diego last weekend and looked more like the pitcher who nearly no-hit Cal Baptist two weeks ago. He didn't surrender a hit until the 5th inning and had Cougar hitters guessing all day.

The only real trouble for Lynn came in the APU seventh inning whent the Cougars led off with two singles. When APU looked to sacrifice Lynn made a quick play on the ball and got the lead runner at third. He then struck out the next two batters to preserve the lead.

The Cougars would put the tying run on second in the ninth, but Michael Rivera came in to get two quick outs and earn his fifth save of the season. The Sunbirds had no extra base hits in the win, though Andrew Douglas did get on and steal two bases.

Game two went bad from the start as pitcher Ryan Castadio had his first rough outing of the year. The junior entered the game with a 1.27 ERA in four starts, but gave up four hits and three runs in the first, including an RBI triple to APU's Trevor Lothrop.

Castadio would leave in the third with a 4-0 deficit and though Steven Lozier looked good in 3+ innings of relief, APU would tack on three runs in the sixth. The Sunbirds went through four pitchers in the inning until Greg Kilgore finally stopped the bleeding, striking out Anthony Delgado with the bases loaded to end the inning.

Meanwhile the Sunbirds' lineup seemed to have no life to it and the team wouldn't put a runner on second base after the first inning. Cougar starter Jacob Cage worked quickly through the FPU order, scattering five hits and walking one to earn the shutout.

Delgado, Brent Warren and Alex Ring each had two hits for APU in the second game as the Cougars' record now stands at 18-16, 11-12 GSAC. With two wins by Cal Baptist, FPU now falls into third place in conference play. Biola keeps winning at the top, improving to 16-4 by sweeping Concordia today.

The Sunbirds will look to step their game up on Tuesday as they head downtown to face the AAA Fresno Grizzlies at Chukchansi Park. Game time is 7:05 pm. Call 320-8497 for tickets.


Around the GSAC
Biola 9, Concordia (H) 3*
Biola 7, Concordia (H) 4*
Point Loma Nazarene 2, Vanguard (H) 1 (10 inn.)*
Vanguard (H) 3, Point Loma Nazarene 2*
California Baptist (H) 15, San Diego Christian 9*
California Baptist (H) 5, San Diego Christian 1*
The Masters 10, Westmont (H) 5*