Game 1 - Sonoma State 8, Fresno Pacific 3

Game 2 - Sonoma State 10, Fresno Pacific 1 (7 innings)

Rohnert Park, Calif. - Fresno Pacific allowed 18 runs in two games on Saturday, falling to #21 Sonoma State 8-3 and 10-1 on the road. The Sunbirds committed five costly errors in the process and fall to 8-5 overall while the Seawolves improve to 8-2 on the year.

In game one, Fresno Pacific squandered two bases loaded opportunities and left 11 runners on base to lose 8-3. The game was tight entering the bottom of the 8th before a walk and an error by the Sunbirds led to four Seawolf runs to put the game out of reach.

FPU wasted a golden opportunity in the first, stranding Devin Lee at third base after a leadoff walk and two stolen bases. A strikeout followed by a groundout left FPU scoreless after the first half inning.

Sonoma State scored the first run of the game in the 2nd after Steven Moen singled home Steven Flippi, who had doubled to lead off the inning. Flippi was a force throughout the game, gathering three hits, scoring three runs and recording one RBI. SSU tacked on another run in the inning on a sac fly to go up 2-0.

The Sunbirds responded in the next half inning with a run, as Steven Lozier ripped a double and later scored on a Lee RBI single. However, FPU could not record a zero in the next half inning surrendering another run on a Flippi single to fall behind 3-1.

FPU would have its best chance to take control of the game in the 4th with a bases loaded no out situation, but only managed one run. Lozier popped up a bunt to the catcher for the first out before Baron Bower brought home John Koretoff on a sac fly to score the lone run. The inning would end as Lee fouled out to right field and the Sunbirds still trailing 3-2.

The Seawolves would bring another run across home in the 5th on a Sunbird error before FPU loaded the bases once again in the 6th. SSU would end the threat by inducing a Lee fly out once again.

Koretoff, who recorded three hits, one run and one RBI, would bring the Sunbirds within one once again with an RBI single in the 7th before Sonoma State opened up the game in the bottom of the 8th.

With the bases loaded and two outs, the Sunbirds surrendered a walk and followed with an error at second base brought home four runs to fall behind and lose 8-3.

Mitchell Scott (1-2) was handed the loss in the game, surrendering three earned runs and five hits in 2.1 innings.

In game two, the Sunbirds allowed 11 hits and 10 runs in the seven inning loss. FPU only managed two hits on three different Sonoma State pitchers in the defeat.

FPU jumped out to a quick lead in the first inning following a leadoff single by Lee and a Kyle Coppom RBI single, but only managed one more hit the rest of the game.

Ryan Castadio, game two starter, fell into trouble in the bottom of the second after a quick first. The Seawolves gathered four hits and drew a walk to score three runs in the second before Castadio escaped and came back with an impressive third inning.

The difference in the game came in the bottom of the fourth, an inning started by a Sunbird error at third base. Sonoma State's Marcus Kimura capped off the five-run fourth with a grand slam, putting the game out of hand 8-1 off of Castadio (0-2) who gave up eight (three earned) runs on the day and was handed the loss.

SSU would tack on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth off sophomore pitcher Jeff Bench and win 10-1.

The Sunbirds return to action Saturday, March 2nd to face Azusa Pacific in a PacWest doubleheader at Azusa starting at 11 am.