Box Score

AZUSA, Calif. - Fresno Pacific fought its way back from a 7-0 deficit but saw its season come to an end on Wednesday at the hands of top-seed Azusa Pacific in the GSAC Tournament, falling 9-5 to the NAIA #4 Cougars.

Kevin Magill went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Robbie De La Cruz finished 3-for-4 as well. Derek Benny took the loss for the fifth-seeded Sunbirds, who played their final game as an NAIA program, ending their season with a 26-27 record as they head into NCAA Division II and the Pacific West Conference next season.

Down to their final six outs and trailing 7-0, the Sunbirds exploded for five runs in the top of the eighth. Travis Morgan led off the inning with a double and Karlan Andrews singled him home for the team's first run of the game. Scott Laird followed with a double to left-center, prompting APU to pull starter Jacob Cage who had thrown seven scoreless innings to that point.

After a flyout and an RBI groundout made it 7-2, Blaine Taylor singled in another run. De La Cruz followed with a single and Magill delivered a bases-clearing triple that made the score 7-5. APU made another pitching change and Michael Rivera came on to pinch-hit. He would drive the ball deep to left, but it would fall inches short of the fence for an inning-ending fly out.

The attempted comeback was short-lived as the Cougars responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning before Rivera got GSAC player of the year Jordan Leyland to ground into an inning-ending double play with the bases loaded. The Sunbirds would go down 1-2-3 in the ninth to end it.

Brent Warren went 2-for-5 with three RBI to lead the Cougars and the APU pitching staff didn't allow a walk as the team advanced to play the loser of a game between #2 Concordia and #4 The Master's.

FPU's 26-27 record marks the first time the team has finished the season with a losing record since 2007, when the Sunbirds went 22-28 in their second year as a program.

It was the final college game for 10 FPU seniors, including All-GSAC shortstop Alec Mehrten and ace pitcher Matt Mazzoni. The Sunbirds graduate their entire starting infield, as well as leadoff hitter Karlan Andrews in the outfield and Benny in the rotation.

Players the Sunbirds are hoping to rely on next season include two members of the starting rotation: All-GSAC lefty Josh Medeles and right-hander Chris Herrera, as well as closer Michael Rivera and catcher Michael Vaughn, both of whom battled injuries this season.

Check fpuathletics.com and follow @fpusunbirds on Twitter to stay up to speed with former Sunbirds playing professionally. The program will look to add to that number with the MLB Amateur Draft this June.