Jake Martinez went the distance on the mound and Nick Pate delivered a go-ahead RBI single in the eighth inning as Fresno Pacific handed visiting Azusa Pacific a 2-1 loss on Thursday night to open a four-game PacWest series.

Martinez struck out eight over nine innings, giving up just four hits and getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. APU starter Jonny Reid matched him pitch for pitch up until the eighth when the Sunbirds put two on to chase him from the game. Pate delivered a 2-out single off the Cougars' reliever to score Tristen Alvarez for the go-ahead run.

Alvarez finished 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Pate and Hunter Villanueva each finished 2-for-3. Preston Scott finished 1-for-2 with two walks and set the stage for the go-ahead run as APU elected to pitch around the Sunbirds' hottest hitter with first base open and Pate on deck.

APU committed four errors in the loss as the Cougars dropped to 9-13, 5-4 in PacWest play.

FPU won its third straight game, improving to 9-13 overall and evening its PacWest record at 4-4.

The teams continue the series tomorrow with a doubleheader starting at 3 pm.