Box Score

Fresno Pacific surrendered a grand slam and a three-run homer in the eighth inning on their way to a 14-6 setback at Azusa Pacific on Thursday night. The Sunbirds (13-9, 4-5 GSAC) have now lost four of their last five.

FPU fell behind 7-0 as the Cougars (15-5, 4-1 GSAC) got to Sunbird starter Chris Herrera in the fifth. After a three-run seventh-inning by the Sunbirds brought the team back within 7-3, a Robbie De La Cruz homer made the score 7-4 in the top of the eighth.

The Cougars would respond though with a Jordan Leyland grand slam and a J.C. Aguayo three-run shot in the bottom half of the inning though to essentially put the game away. The Sunbirds would tack on two in the ninth on a Karlan Andrews double and a Cougar error.

Leyland finished 3-for-4 with four RBI to lead the Cougars while Matt Kimmel went 4-for-5 with two RBI.

Andrews finished 2-for-5 with two RBI for FPU. De La Cruz was 2-for-3 with the solo homer and Steven Lozier added two hits as well. Herrera took the loss for FPU, giving up seven runs (six earned) in six innings while striking out four. The Sunbird bullpen surrendered seven runs as well.

Jacob Cage earned the win for APU pitching seven strong innings and striking out six.

The teams meet up again tomorrow at 2 pm at APU before a Saturday doubleheader in Fresno.