In a battle of PacWest aces, FPU's Wilson Ashford out-dueled Azusa Pacific's Josh Staumont on Thursday night as the Sunbirds cruised to a 10-2 victory over the NCAA Division II #15-ranked Cougars. With plenty of scouts on hand to see Staumont, a top MLB Draft prospect who's touched 100 miles per hour this season, it was Ashford who would steal the show by tossing 7 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up just three hits and striking out a career-high 12 batters in the win.

Staumont, coming off a 14-strikeout combined no-hitter against Point Loma and entering the game with a 1.21 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 22 innings, was touched up for 10 runs, nine earned, by the Sunbird lineup. Preston Scott sent his heater over the left field wall in the first inning and the Sunbirds added four runs in the third and four in the fourth for a 10-0 lead. It was the third time that FPU has defeated Staumont dating back to last season, including the NCCAA West Region championship series.

Nick Stoll finished 3-for-4, Scott was 2-for-4 with the homer and two RBI, John Koretoff went 2-for-5 with two RBI and Nick Pate was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Baron Bower went 1-for-3 with two walks and stole a base in the second inning, giving him 31 career steals to pass third base coach Matt Souza for second all-time at FPU. He added another later in the game and needs three to tie Andrew Douglas for first.

Jordan Brower homered in the ninth for the Cougars' only runs as APU fell to 16-5, 6-3 in PacWest play.

FPU improved to 13-7, 4-5 in the PacWest on the season. The Sunbirds are ranked #7 in the West Region, falling from the top spot after going 3-5 in Hawaii. APU is ranked #3 in the region.

The two teams continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 4 pm.