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Mazzoni breaks strikeout record, but Sunbirds swept at Concordia

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Fresno Pacific dropped a Friday doubleheader at Concordia 13-4 and 5-2, but Matt Mazzoni broke the program's all-time record for career strikeouts.

Fresno Pacific was swept by defending NAIA national champion #11 Concordia in Irvine by scores of 13-4 and 5-2 on Friday, falling to 25-24 (12-18 GSAC) on the season, but starting pitcher Matt Mazzoni would strike out five batters in the first game to break Daniel Brodie's career record for strikeouts.

"Breaking the career strikeout record is a great honor," said Mazzoni. "I could not have accomplished it without the guidance of [pitching coaches] Jordan Keener and Bob Jacobsen over my four years as a Sunbird. I have also had the opportunity to pitch to talented catchers, such as Jared Coleman and Michael Vaughn, who have contributed to this feat just as much as I have."

Mazzoni also credited Brodie, who pitched from 2006-2009 and set the record at 170 strikeouts. Mazzoni now has 175.

"He taught me a tremendous amount about how to compete on the mound when I was a freshman. I'm thankful for his guidance."

Mazzoni set the record by striking out the first batter he faced in the first inning, but it was all downhill from there for the Sunbirds as the Eagles pounded out 15 hits on six Sunbird pitchers.

"Today did not go the way we would have liked...my performance especially," said Mazzoni. "My teammates are going to pick me up tomorrow when we go out and play with our whole hearts as we fight for our season in order to make the conference tournament."

The Sunbirds host Concordia for a senior day doubleheader tomorrow at 1 pm and will celebrate the careers of 10 seniors. FPU, at 12-18 in GSAC, needs at least one win to clinch a spot in the six-team GSAC Tournament. The Sunbirds are currently tied for fifth with Vanguard, but Westmont is looming in seventh place at 11-19. Westmont and Vanguard square off in a doubleheader in Santa Barbara tomorrow.

Alec Mehrten finished 4-for-8 with two RBI in today's games. Karlan Andrews added three hits. Scott Laird, Blaine Taylor and Robbie De La Cruz had two apiece.

The Sunbirds are hoping the tide will turn tomorrow in front of the home crowd, where they've gone 17-6 this season.
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