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Fresno Pacific found itself on the wrong end of two close games on Saturday as Azusa Pacific defeated the Sunbirds 9-7 and 3-1 in Fresno to complete a four-game series sweep of FPU. It was the first time the Sunbirds had been swept in a GSAC series since 2007, which had been the longest active streak in the conference.

The Sunbirds, who dropped to 13-12 (4-8 GSAC), have now lost seven of their last eight games. The Cougars improved to 18-5, 7-1 in the conference.

APU would score twice in the ninth inning of game one to break a 7-7 tie. The Sunbirds brought the winning run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, putting runners on first and third with one out, but a blooper back to the pitcher was caught in the air and fired to first base to double off the runner and end the game.

The first game was back and forth throughout, as the two teams combined for a five-inning span in which each team scored in their half of the inning. FPU took the lead 7-6 when Alan Sandoval belted a double over the head of the APU rightfielder to score Blaine Taylor, who had doubled, and Karlan Andrews, who'd singled.

The Sunbirds would strand a runner on third though and the Cougars tied it up the next inning. FPU stranded 10 runners on the day and was unable to fully capitalize on five APU errors.

The Cougars hit three homeruns, all to nearly the exact same spot in right field, by Matt Kimmel, Matt Page and Trevor Lothrop. APU also had some strong defense from shortstop Anthony Rodriguez, who ended a Sunbird rally in the eighth with a diving play.

The Sunbird defense would falter at the most inopportune time as a ball was partially misread in the outfield with two outs in the ninth, dropping and going for a double that gave APU what would prove to be the winning run. An FPU passed ball would allow the Cougars to score again in the inning.

Josh Medeles was hit with the loss, giving up two earned runs in three innings of relief and striking out four. Starter Matt Mazzoni had gone six innings, striking out six but giving up six runs, though he had left the game in line for the win.

APU's Michael Finnigan shut the Sunbirds down in game two, going all seven innings and giving up just two hits and an unearned run while striking out six.

Derek Benny went six innings giving up three runs on four hits for FPU before being relieved by Michael Rivera, who was impressive in one inning of work, striking out three.

A Robbie De La Cruz sacrifice fly in the third would be all the Sunbirds could muster offensively in the loss.

FPU will look to get back on track this Thursday at 6 pm when they host conference foe Vanguard in the first of a four-game series. The Lions, at 1-7, are in last place in the conference. FPU is currently in a three-way tie for sixth.



More to come....