Fresno Pacific played two more extra inning games with the NCAA Division II's #6-ranked team on Saturday, splitting a doubleheader with the Wildcats to take two out of three in the series. The Sunbirds (6-2) went toe-to-toe with the defending NCAA West Region champs all weekend as the teams played 34 innings in two days.

"That's one of the best series' that I've ever been a part of as a coach," said head coach Oscar Hirschkorn, who was coaching against his former pitching coach. Hirschkorn played at Chico State and was a part of the school's 1997 national championship team. "I can't remember being involved in a series like this where every game went to extra innings between two great programs. I couldn't be more proud of our team and the way they fought, how many times their backs were against the wall but they came through. We're very pleased to have won this series and to have played at the level that we played all three games."

McKay France delivered a walk-off single in the 14th inning in game one, capping off a dramatic come-from-behind victory that clinched a series win. The Sunbirds got a quality start from Jake Martinez, who struck out six over 7 1/3 and 6 2/3 scoreless innings of relief from its bullpen, including three apiece from Tanner Irwin and Kyle Rasmussen. Rasmussen earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season.

In game two the Sunbirds used a five-run 5th inning to take a 5-3 lead but a throwing error in the sixth allowed the Wildcats to tie it up. Despite quality outings from starter Drew Merlo and Eian Raeber out of the pen, the Wildcats would salvage a win with an RBI single in the 10th.

Preston Scott and Travis Beck led the Sunbird offense, totaling three hits apiece on the day.

The Sunbirds played without their top offensive threat, centerfielder Baron Bower, who missed the series after an outfield collision last weekend.

FPU is back in action next weekend against another CCAA opponent as the Sunbirds take on San Francisco State on the road.