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Fresno Pacific saw two program records fall on Saturday and got a breakout game from
Blaine Taylor as the team split a non-conference doubleheader at Cal State San Marcos.
The Sunbirds (24-22) were held down in the first game, a 4-1 loss, before coming back to salvage the split with a 3-2 victory. Taylor homered in the first game then went 3-for-3 in game two to finish the day 4-for-6 with two RBI.
Josh Medeles went six innings to earn the win in game two and
Michael Rivera earned the save, making him the program's all-time career leader with 14, breaking the record of former Sunbird Brian Oliver.
Earlier in the game
Alec Mehrten became the program's all-time leader in walks, drawing a free pass that started a rally in the fourth inning to pass
Tyler Pryor in the record books.
The Sunbirds ran into a pitcher at the top of his game in the opener, as Cougar starter James Dykstra went the distance allowing just five hits and one run (the solo homer to Taylor) while walking none and striking out 12. Taylor's blast in the fifth would be FPU's only run.
Derek Benny had some tough luck as FPU's starter, as three unearned runs came across in the bottom half of the fifth after Taylor's homer had tied the game at one. Benny finished with 5 1/3 innings, six hits and one earned run with five strikeouts.
Matt Mazzoni pitched out of the bullpen for the first time this season, looking very strong in 2 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out two, bringing him within one strikeout of Daniel Brodie's FPU career record of 170.
In game two FPU fell behind 2-0 after a Cougar homer in the first inning but
Josh Medeles was in the zone after that, pitching his way by going scoreless from that point. He struck out six in six innings of work before giving way to Rivera who lowered his season ERA to 0.71 with the scoreless ninth.
FPU tied the game in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Taylor, scoring
Scott Laird. The Sunbirds got the go-ahead run in the seventh as
Travis Morgan singled, stole second and scored on a hit to center by
Karlan Andrews.
The Cougars, who were recently ranked in the NAIA Top 25, dropped to 23-18 on the season.
FPU travels to NCAA Division I San Jose State on Tuesday night to make up a previously rained out game. The Sunbirds then close out the regular season with a four-game series against defending NAIA National Champion Concordia.