AZUSA, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific University baseball team split a PacWest Conference doubleheader on Friday evening, defeating fifth-ranked Azusa Pacific 9-8 in the opener before falling 16­-3 in the nightcap.
 
APU got on the scoreboard in the first inning, but the Sunbirds took their first lead of the day with a two-run dinger from Eddie Sievers in the third. Travis Anderson and Hunter Villanueva opened the fourth with back-to-back doubles, and McKay France added an RBI single three batters later to push the FPU lead to 4-1.
 
The Cougar bats exploded in the fifth inning, plating five runs before adding another score just after the seventh-inning stretch. The Blue and Orange answered by recording their highest-scoring inning of the series in the eighth to take their final lead of the game.
 
Anderson was hit by a pitch to begin the frame, and Villanueva singled to left to give the Sunbirds a pair of baserunners with no outs. Braden Frankfort then hit a pinch-hit three-run shot to right center before Tristen Alvarez added an RBI double to give FPU a 9-7 edge.
 
Azusa Pacific did scratch across another run before the final pitch was thrown, but FPU was able to hang on for the win and put an end to a region-best 13-game Cougar winning streak. Nic Boatman picked up the win in relief of Jonathan Molina, and Matt Bergandi was able to shut the door for his third save of the spring.
 
The nightcap saw the Cougar offense click from the get-go, as APU opened the game with a five-run inning and followed with three runs in the second. Third baseman Adrian Tovalin connected on his third longball of the night in the home fifth to make it 13-3, and the Sunbirds were never able to recover.
 
McKay France highlighted the FPU offense, as his two doubles were a large chunk of the team's five base hits. France, Sievers and designated hitter Robby Steves were credited with an RBI apiece in the loss.
 
Josh Acosta took the loss for the Sunbirds despite leaving the game with an injury after just nine pitches. Carson Schellenberg recorded the next four outs before Zach Fleeman went 3.2 frames and Matt Leslie delivered the final inning on the mound.
 
APU belted out a total of 15 base hits, including eight that went for extra bases. Dillon Miyashiro went the distance for the Cougars, tossing all seven innings while racking up four strikeouts and allowing just one earned run.
 
Fresno Pacific will look for a series split on Saturday, when the two teams are set to wrap up the four-game series. First pitch from APU Baseball Field is slated for noon.