Box Score 1
Box Score 2

Two days after Point Loma Nazarene had a walk-off home win over Fresno Pacific, the Sunbirds returned the favor as Robbie De La Cruz's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Fresno Pacific to a 2-1 victory over the Sea Lions in game one of Saturday's doubleheader in Fresno. The Sunbirds then built up a 7-0 lead before hanging on late in a 7-5 rain-shortened game win to complete the sweep.

Josh Medeles and Chris Herrera were locked-in on the mound for the Sunbirds, who bounced back from the two-game sweep at PLNU on Thursday to improve to 19-16, 10-12 in GSAC play. The Sea Lions dropped to 15-22, 8-16 GSAC.

The first game appeared headed for extra innings with both teams' starting pitchers controlling the game into the ninth inning and the Sunbirds down to their final out in the ninth with two outs and none on. Michael Rivera ripped a double down the left-field line though that looked like it might clear the fence, instead it bounced over the top for a ground-rule double.

After Connor Monis pinch-ran at second base, De La Cruz drilled a hit over the third baseman's head, scoring Monis easily to end the game. It was only the fourth hit of the day for the Sunbirds, who up until that inning had just two hits, both by Blaine Taylor.

Medeles kept the Sea Lions in check with pinpoint control, going 8 1/3 innings and giving up four hits and one run while striking out five and not allowing a single walk. Rivera came on to pitch to the final two batters in the top of the ninth, earning the win. PLNU's Tyler Garkow took the loss, despite a complete game with eight strikeouts and just four hits given up.

The Sunbirds jumped ahead in game two, scoring seven runs in the first two innings. Alec Mehrten was responsible for driving in three of those runs, coming through with RBI hits in both innings. De La Cruz's two-RBI double in the second brought the score to 7-0.

Herrera cruised along through the first six innings without giving up a run. He was aided by some sensational defense from De La Cruz at first base and Travis Morgan at third. Rain began to fall in the sixth and by the seventh it had turned into quite a downpour. The Sea Lions would get three hits off Herrera to start the seventh, as PLNU finally got on the board. 

The Sunbirds used three relief pitchers, but PLNU would load the bases with the score now 7-5 and the FPU pitchers struggling to find the zone in the weather conditions. With the tying run now on base and rain pouring down, Wilson Ashford rose to the occasion by fanning PLNU's Trey Hunt swinging to end the inning. After a 30-minute rain delay, the game was called, giving Ashford the save.

FPU is on the road this Tuesday, making up a doubleheader at Vanguard that was previously rained out. The Sunbirds are back home on Wednesday and Friday for non-conference action against Menlo and La Sierra.