Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Fresno Pacific clinched a spot in the NCCAA west region playoff following a split of Holy Names (14-35, 10-25 PacWest) on Friday, earning a 3-1 series win on the road. James Lagorio delivered a complete game win for FPU (30-20, 21-14 PacWest) while Matt Fox and Kyle Coppom totaled three RBI in the 5-2 game two win after dropping game one 5-2.

The Sunbirds will now travel to Riverside for the regional tournament beginning on Thursday, hosted by #1 seed California Baptist. The Sunbirds are the #2 seed in a field that also includes #3 Arizona Christian and #4 Point Loma. The winner advances to the NCCAA World Series in Mason, Ohio on May 15-18.

The Sunbirds dropped game one after allowing three runs in the bottom of the sixth with the game tied 2-2, proving to be the difference in the 5-2 loss.

After being down 2-0 heading into the top of the fourth, Brett Bishop blasted a two-run home run to tie the game at two. The score would remain tied until Holy Names scored the three runs on a ball down the third base line that just managed to stay fair in the sixth, and would hold on to steal game one from FPU.

Mitchell Scott picked up the loss for FPU after giving up three runs in relief of Wilson Ashford, who went four innings giving up two earned.

Fresno Pacific would respond in a critical game two, led by senior Matt Fox who put FPU on the scoreboard first with an RBI triple in the top of the third to put the score 1-0. Kyle Coppom would plate two more in the third to put FPU in command 3-0.

Holy Names responded in the fourth by finally getting to Lagorio after a triple and a sac fly to plate two runs and pull the score within one at 3-2, but FPU would escape the fourth with the lead by limiting the damage.

FPU would tack on two more runs in the final two frames with RBI singles from Baron Bower and Kaohu Gaspar to win by the final score of 5-2.

Lagorio earned his fourth win of the year following his four strikeout seven inning complete game.

The Sunbirds totaled 10 hits in the win, led by two apiece from Fox, Bishop, Gaspar and Bower.

A complete playoff preview with game schedules and opponents will be posted early next week.