Full Bracket & Schedule
Live Video Coverage
Live Stats
Prasco Park Visitor Info

MASON, Ohio - Fresno Pacific emerged from pool play undefeated at the NCCAA World Series after a 6-2 win over Bluefield secured their spot in the semifinals and a 2-2 tie with Palm Beach Atlantic made the Sunbirds the Pool A winners at 3-0-1. The Sunbirds (37-18-1) made it out of pool play without having to use ace starting pitcher Wilson Ashford, who will be available to take the mound in the single-elimination round starting tomorrow.

"We feel good about being the one seed coming out of our pool," said head coach Oscar Hirschkorn. "We feel like we're in a really solid position with our pitching going forward. We made some mental mistakes, particularly on the basepaths, that were uncharacteristic of us but we'll correct those and be better for it heading into tomorrow."

John Koretoff went 2-for-4 with a homerun and two RBI in the first game while Michael Tittle added two doubles and an RBI. Eian Raeber (5-4) pitched deep into the game, going 7 2/3 innings, giving up two runs and striking out nine while working around six hits and six walks. Kyle Rasmussen got the team out of a late jam for a four-out save.

"Eian really battled," said Hirschkorn. "For him being able to come out and perform under pressure with a start like that in spite of some of the injuries he's been battling was admirable."

FPU scored in each of the first three innings to take a 4-1 lead, highlighted by Koretoff's blast to left-center on the first pitch of the second inning.

With a spot in the semifinals looking secure, head coach Oscar Hirschkorn gave the ball to Austin Tatum in game two, making just his third start of the season. Tatum delivered a quality start, pitching into the sixth inning and giving up just one run. Both teams' pitchers worked in and out of jams throughout the night as the teams combined to strand 19 runners on base. FPU took the lead in the sixth inning and again in the seventh, but each time the Sailfish responded with a run in the bottom half.

Tanner Irwin got the team out of trouble in the seventh, striking out six batters in 2 2/3 innings of work to close out the game.

Junior outfielder Preston Scott was out with an injury for the second straight day but is probable for tomorrow's semifinal.

The Sunbirds tak on #3-seed Oklahoma Christian at 2 pm PST (5 pm local time) tomorrow. The Eagles are 34-20 on the season and finished as the runner-up in Pool B behind #2 seed Lee (Tenn.). FPU defeated OCU, last year's top seed, 4-0 during pool play to eliminate the Eagles from the tournament. Like FPU, OCU has yet to use their ace Dillon Endecott (6-4, 2.77 ERA).

The other semifinal features Lee against the winner of tomorrow morning's Palm Beach Atlantic-Toccoa Falls game.