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Freshman Josh Medeles struck out 11 in a complete game victory to lead Fresno Pacific past #11 Concordia 3-2 in the second game of Saturday's senior day doubleheader to secure a spot in next week's GSAC Tournament.

With their season on the line, the Sunbirds came up big in crunch time to secure the #5 seed in the tournament. A loss in the second game would have ended FPU's season.

After giving up four runs in the ninth inning to drop game one 9-5, the Sunbirds took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning in game two. They would strand the bases loaded though and the Eagles would proceed to tie it in the following inning.

The game stayed at 2-2 until the bottom of the seventh when FPU loaded the bases with two outs prompting a pitching change with cleanup hitter Michael Vaughn coming to the plate. Vaughn delivered a single through the left side, scoring Steven Lozier with the go-ahead run. Vaughn, having recently returned from injury, finished 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Medeles had the task of holding that one-run lead and continued his masterful performance in the eighth and ninth innings. He finished with a complete game, surrendering six hits and two unearned runs while striking out 11.

In game one, Robbie De La Cruz went 3-for-4 while Karlan Andrews, Alec Mehrten and Alan Sandoval each finished with two hits. Derek Benny got the start and was effective into the sixth inning before catching a couple bad breaks.

It was the final home game for seniors Benny, De La Cruz, Andrews, Mehrten, Scott Laird, Travis Morgan, David Hawes, Greg Kilgore, Blaine Taylor and Matt Mazzoni.

FPU will face Concordia again in the first game of the double elimination GSAC Tournament on Tuesday at 2:15 pm. The Eagles are the #2 seed after finishing the conference schedule at 22-10. FPU finishes the regular season at 26-25, 13-19 in conference.

The Sunbirds finished in a three-way tie for fifth place with Westmont and Vanguard but won the tiebreaker with the best record in games between the three teams. Westmont won the head-to-head series with Vanguard and will be the #6 and final seed.

Azusa Pacific won the conference with a 28-4 record and earned the right to host as the top seed. Biola is the #3 seed and The Master's is #4.

Regardless of what happens in Tuesday's game, the Sunbirds will play again on Wednesday. FPU doesn't have a shot at an at-large bid to the NAIA Regionals, so would need to win the GSAC tournament in order to qualify.