FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team dropped both ends of a PacWest Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon, falling 7-4 in the opener before stumbling to a 2-1 loss in the nightcap.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP:
Final: Game 1: Hawai'i Hilo 7, Fresno Pacific 4 | Hawai'i Hilo 2, Fresno Pacific 1
Records: FPU (9-11, 6-8 PacWest), UHH (11-11, 7-7)
Location: FPU Diamond | Fresno, Calif.   
All-Time Series: FPU leads 14-8
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GAME 1:  
• After starter Esteban Lizaola overcame a two-out error in the top of the first, Braden Frankfort started the scoring with a bloop single to left.
• The Vulcans got the run back in the fourth by taking advantage of a pair of wild pitches.
• Ross Dodds opened the home half with a solo shot to left, starting a big inning for the home nine.
• Nate Case was hit by a pitch before Jarrett Anton singled him over to third base two batters later. Derek Arkelian followed an RBI base hit to right, and a suicide squeeze bunt from Eddie Sievers gave the Sunbirds a 4-1 lead.
• Lizaola pitched into the ninth before turning things over to the FPU bullpen, but the Vulcans refused to go quietly in the final frame.
• The wheels came off for the Sunbirds, as Hawai'i Hilo combined four walks with six hits and two FPU blunders to score six runs in the frame.
• Jonathan Molina took the loss for the Blue and Orange after allowing three runs without recording an out.
• Anton turned in a 3-for-3 afternoon for the Sunbirds, giving him his third three-hit performance of the season.
 
GAME 2:
• The two teams exchanged zeroes for the first four innings before the Vulcans finally broke through with two runs in the fifth.
• FPU answered in the home half, cutting the deficit to one on an RBI groundout by Haden Haynes.
• The Sunbirds put the tying run in scoring position in each of the final three innings, but UHH was able to hold the Blue and Orange off the scoreboard to hold on for their second win of the day.
• Ross Dodds gave the Sunbirds two of their five hits for the game, while starter Alex Garcia pitched into the ninth yet again despite taking the hard luck loss.
• Carson Schellenberg faced just one batter out of the bullpen, getting the Vulcans to bounce into a double play to end the inning.
 
ON DECK:
• The Sunbirds and Vulcans wrap up the series on Monday afternoon with another twin bill at FPU Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.