Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

A rain delay and cold and wet conditions couldn't cool off Fresno Pacific in its home opener as the Sunbirds played late into the night, winning in walk-off fashion 6-5 to sweep a doubleheader from Cal State Stanislaus after defeating the Warriors 8-4 in game one.

Joshua Banuelos put on an impressive offensive display for the home crowd, going 6-for-8 at the plate with three doubles and five RBI to lead a revamped 2014 Sunbird lineup. Meanwhile the Sunbird pitching staff struck out 22 Warrior batters on the night, led by a seven-inning, 10-strikeout performance from starter J.D. Salles who earned the win in game one.

"It's fun watching these guys hit and play," said head coach Oscar Hirschkorn. "Just the way they approach the game. J.D. is a true number one. He's a shutdown guy. With him on the mound, knowing he's dialed-in, that just makes everyone else that much more confident.

"It's really good to have Banuelos in the lineup and especially to have him and Kaohu Gaspar back-to-back, I think that's going to be a very formidable duo for us. One through nine we are very strong. Stanislaus is a tough team and they really battled, making us earn both these wins."

The Warriors (0-2) scored two in the ninth inning of game one and were threatening to score more before Tanner Irwin came on to earn the one-out save with a strikeout. The Sunbirds had built up a 6-1 lead early on behind great hitting from Banuelos, as well as two hits apiece from Michael Tittle, Michael Hostetler and Hunter Villanueva. Gaspar had an RBI triple, two walks and three runs scored in the win to continue a hot start to the season for the senior outfielder.

The Sunbirds fell behind early on in game two after a dropped fly ball led to a run but starter Wilson Ashford did a good job of minimizing the damage before proceeding to throw four straight scoreless innings. The team loaded up the bases for Banuelos in the third and the Sunbird first baseman promptly crushed a ball to right center, clearing the bases and putting FPU ahead 3-1.

The Warriors would get to Ashford in the sixth however, highlighted by a three-RBI double from Colton Beatty, who was 6-for-10 on the night to lead CSUS. The Sunbirds trailed 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth and would struggle to get timely hits as they attempted to climb their way back.

After stranding two runners in the sixth, leaving the bases loaded in the seventh and hitting into a double play in the eighth, the Sunbirds would finally break through in the ninth, saving their heroics for the final frame against the Warrior bullpen.

The late rally wouldn't have been possible however without a superb performance from the FPU bullpen, namely Eian Raeber who earned the win after coming on in the ninth and stranding a runner at third by striking out the side. Michael Rodrigues was instrumental in getting the team out of a jam as well and Anthony Cantu added a scoreless inning of work.

"Rodrigues is phenomenal with the way he can pitch whenever called upon," said Hirschkorn. "Cantu threw a strong inning and Raeber is a force. He's got that kind of shutdown stuff. It's good to have a guy that wants the ball late in the game with pressure."

Raeber's ninth-inning performance kept a very important run off the board, as the Sunbirds entered the bottom of the ninth still down 5-3. Hostetler got the rally going by taking one for the team and being hit by a pitch. He would later come around to score on an RBI groundout by John Koretoff, making the score 5-4, but the Sunbirds were now down to their final out with the tying run only on first.

Devin Turner then came through in the clutch, fighting back from a 1-2 count to drill a single to left. Hirschkorn wisely utilized his bench to bring in pinch-runners Nico Payan and McKay France, giving the Sunbirds speed on the basepaths with the winning run now on base.

The speed on the basepaths would prove to be the winning formula as the two runners advanced on a wild pitch, before Payan scored on a wild pitch to tie the game in a close play at the plate. Villanueva was the batter, showing poise beyond his years as the freshman drew a crucial walk. FPU showed great discipline all night, drawing nine walks in game two including three apiece by Villanueva and Baron Bower.

With runners on first and third, Villanueva would take off for second with no one covering. The pitch once again got away from the catcher with France racing home and scoring easily before being mobbed by his teammates at the plate. Dustin Baisdon would take the loss for the Warriors.

FPU (3-1) travels to Turlock on Monday to complete the four-game series with the Warriors. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday, but moved due to rain. First pitch is scheduled for 4 pm.