Box Score

Robbie De La Cruz went 3-for-3 and Chris Herrera tossed five innings of one-run ball with five strikeouts as FPU defeated La Sierra 5-4 in a non-conference game in Fresno.

The Sunbirds (21-18) built up a 5-0 lead by the fourth inning on the Golden Eagles (3-25) but La Sierra would battle back before quality bullpen work by Ryan Cheek and Michael Rivera sealed the win.

FPU took a 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI single by John Koretoff. The Sunbirds then added three runs in the third, getting an RBI single by De La Cruz, an RBI double from Steven Lozier and a sacrifice fly from Scott Laird.

La Sierra would get one run off Herrera in the fifth, but otherwise the Sunbird right-hander was locked in, keeping the Golden Eagles hitless until the fourth inning.

Once Herrera exited though, La Sierra would string together three singles and a two-RBI double by Adrian Gardea to get within 5-4. Cheek got the Sunbirds out of the inning and would follow with two scoreless frames before giving way to Rivera.

The Eagles threatened in the ninth, putting a runner on second with no outs but a heads up play by Travis Morgan would get the runner going to third. With the tying run on base, Rivera would strike out pinch-hitter Scott Makorow swinging to end it and earn his fifth save.

Michael Hinojos took the loss for La Sierra, giving up four runs and walking five in 2 1/3 innings. Herrera picked up his team-leading seventh win of the season for the Sunbirds.

FPU, which improved to 11-4 in non-conference games and 16-5 at home, will play another non-conference game on Tuesday traveling north to face Cal State Stanislaus at 3 pm in Turlock. The Sunbirds defeated the Warriors 9-2 in Fresno earlier this season.