FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific University baseball team split a doubleheader on Thursday, falling 7-5 in the opener against Western Oregon before responding with a 7-0 victory in the nightcap.
 
"We know we are in every game, no matter who we are up against. It's huge to be able to get a split against this team," head coach Oscar Hirschkorn said. "Today speaks to our depth a little bit. We are still moving guys around and working through some things. It was encouraging to see us put some things together to rebound."
 
Right hander Josh Acosta pitched into the fourth while surrendering just one earned run, but a high pitch count and command issues forced him to give way to the FPU bullpen. Carson Schellenberg was the first reliever of the day for the Sunbirds, tossing 2.1 frames and allowing just one run to cross the plate.
 
Tanner Irwin overcame a hit and a walk to record a scoreless inning on the mound, but the WOU offense struck for three runs in the eighth and handed Nic Boatman his first loss of the year. Brady Miller hurled the first five frames for the Wolves, but it was Connor McCord's two innings that earned him the victory. Kade Mechals allowed just one walk over the final two innings en route to picking up his first save.
 
On the offensive side, five different Sunbirds came away with base hits, with Michael Warkentin and Baron Bower each driving in a pair of runs. Western Oregon first baseman Koty Fallon went 2-for-4 at the dish while driving in two runs.
 
The nightcap proved to be much different for the Sunbirds, as right hander Elias Bedolla held the home nine hitless for the first five innings. Bryan Bucher finally broke up the no-hitter with a leadoff single in the sixth, and FPU began to flip the script on Bedolla.
 
The Blue and Orange sent 11 men to the plate in the home sixth and managed to tag Bedolla and reliever Shawn Domke for a combined seven runs in the frame. Trent Ashford turned in all seven innings on the mound, striking out five while picking up his first victory as a Sunbird.
 
"Trent was the story of that game, and we expect that kind of outing from him every time he pitches," Hirschkorn said. "He works quick and pounds the zone with good stuff, and he just kept making his pitches until it finally broke loose."
 
FPU and Western Oregon will play another twinbill on Saturday, with first pitch from FPU Diamond coming at 11:00 a.m. Game One will be a nine-inning contest, while the series finale is slated for seven innings.