Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

Drew Merlo took a no-hitter into the eighth inning of game one and Kaohu Gaspar added to his PacWest-leading batting average as FPU swept Point Loma in a senior day doubleheader by scores of 4-3 and 4-0. Eian Raeber tossed a seven-inning shutout in game two as the Sunbirds (22-16, 10-10 PacWest) took three out of four in the series from the Sea Lions (19-18, 10-10 PacWest).

"You can't overstate how important those two pitching performances were," said head coach Oscar Hirschkorn. "We had a great performance in all four of the games this series, starting with J.D. pitching about as good as you can pitch in the first one. Merlo was almost perfect today. He was hitting all his spots and had everything working for him. Raeber did the same thing in game four. He was pumping strikes and repeating his delivery and once Eian does that he is really tough to hit."

Gaspar shined in his final home series, collecting four hits on the day to raise his PacWest-leading batting average to .420. The Sunbird senior was dialed-in all series, going 9-for-14 with seven RBI. It was Gaspar who delivered perhaps the biggest hit of the day, driving a single to right with the bases loaded to break a scoreless tie in the sixth inning of game two. FPU would score four during a two-out rally that inning.

"Point Loma's pitching is always good and so that was a well-pitched series all the way around," said Hirschkorn. "I was very pleased offensively with the quality at-bats we took. Gaspar was huge. If that's not PacWest player of the week I don't know what is. I don't even remember him getting out. It wasn't just the hits, but the run production."

Merlo came within five outs of a no-hitter in the first game before PLNU pinch-hitter Kyle Desimone looped a single into centerfield. He surrendered just three hits on the day and struck out seven in the win. James Lagorio earned the save.

FPU celebrated the careers of six seniors: Jeff Bench, Anthony Cantu, Kaohu Gaspar, Aaron Kirkpatrick, James Lagorio and J.D. Salles.

"These seniors mean a lot to us," said Hirschkorn. "It's such a good group of guys. How they carry themselves on and off the field is really reflective of what we want our program to be all about. The work ethic and the example they set has been tremendous. It was an emotional day but also a celebration."

The Sunbirds are back in action next weekend, traveling to San Francisco to face last-place Academy of Art for a four-game series.

"We're still getting better and we believe that as a team," said Hirschkorn. "This is a month where you see a lot of college teams plateau or take a dip, but we feel like we just keep getting better. If we keep working we have a chance to really make a run. I'm excited about where we are and where we're going."

Video highlights will be posted later this evening, interviews with all six seniors will be posted on Monday on the Fresno Pacific Athletics YouTube Channel