AZUSA, Calif.  – The Fresno Pacific University baseball team survived a late rally attempt from #5 Azusa Pacific on Saturday afternoon, claiming a 6-5 victory to earn a series split. The Sunbirds improve to 6-10 on the season, including a 3-5 mark in PacWest Conference action.
 
Righthander Josue Mendivil received the starting nod for the visiting Sunbirds and turned in the longest outing of any FPU pitcher this season. The Visalia, Calif. freshman tossed eight innings, allowing three runs on five hits while fanning eight and delivering 121 pitches.
 
Braden Frankfort got the offense going early with a two-run shot to right center in the first inning, but APU third baseman Adrian Tovalin evened the score with a longball of his own in the home half. Frankfort drove in the go-ahead run in the third before plating another two innings later, and Travis Anderson's fielder's choice pushed FPU's lead to 6-2 in the fifth.
 
Tovalin hit his sixth home run of the series to begin the home ninth and finally chase Mendivil from the game. Closer Matt Bergandi overcame a catcher's inference call and a two-run dinger from Quincy Quintero to preserve Mendivil's first win and record his fourth save.
 
Frankfort finished his day with a career-high four RBI while pushing his hitting streak to an even eight games. Travis Anderson and McKay France each drove in a run, as six different Sunbirds contributed a base hit in Saturday's win.
 
Tovalin's multi-homer day highlighted the effort for the Cougars, while Quintero was the only other APU hitter to drive in more than one run. Azusa Pacific used four pitchers, but starter Wyatt Wood took the loss after lasting just two innings and allowing three runs.
 
Royal Bradley provided little relief as the first man out of the APU pen, surrendering two hits and two walks that turned into a pair of Sunbird runs. Hayden Jorgensen went longer than any Cougar on Saturday, giving up a single unearned run before Kyle Murray tossed the final inning.
 
The Sunbirds will be off until March 24, when they host Concordia in the front end of back-to-back PacWest doubleheaders. First pitch from FPU Diamond is set for 2:00 p.m.