SANTA ROSA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team picked up its' first victory of the year on Sunday afternoon, winning the opener of a twin bill in extra innings against Sonoma State. The Sunbirds dropped the nightcap, however, falling by a final of 1-0. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Game 1 – FPU 7, Sonoma State 5 (11 innings)
Game 2 – Sonoma State 1, FPU 0 (7 innings)
Records: FPU (1-3), SSU (1-1)
Location: Sypher Field | Santa Rosa, Calif.
Series: FPU leads 7-5
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• Haden Haynes started the scoring with FPU's first home run of the season in the third inning, a solo shot over the left field wall.
• Three batters later, shortstop Tristen Alvarez doubled in a run to give FPU a 2-0 lead, but the Seawolves answered with three hits in the home half to tie the game.
• A one-out single in the bottom of the sixth prompted the exit of Sunbird starter Esteban Lizaola, taking him out of the running for the win.
• Carson Schellenberg overcame two walks to keep the game at 3-2, and the offense went right back to work in the seventh.
• Brian Hefner singled up the middle to begin the frame and followed with a swipe of second base before a fielder's choice put the tying run 90 feet away.
• Angel Flores' RBI groundout was enough to pull the Sunbirds even, and the game remained tied at 3-3 until the ninth inning.
• With the bases loaded, Michael Warkentin drew a walk and Alvarez singled through the left side, putting FPU in the driver's seat once again.
• The Seawolves were down to their final out in the opener, but a walk allowed designated hitter James Harwell an extra at-bat, and he answered with a two-run shot to tie the game for the final time. 
• Flores doubled to right center in the top of the 11th, and Alvarez came up with a double of his own two batters later to put the Blue and Orange in front for good. 
• Freshman Jared Aguilar gave the Sunbirds an insurance run with his first collegiate two-bagger before moving to the mound and picking up his first save in the bottom half. 
• Righthander Nic Boatman took the ball for FPU in the nightcap, scattering just four hits and tallying five strikeouts over five innings and some change.
• A bases-loaded walk in the home fifth proved to be the difference, ultimately handing Boatman his first loss of the year. 
 
 STATS FROM THE DAY
• Alvarez turned in a five-hit performance in the opener, while Hefner and Matt McGrady were the only Sunbirds to pick up a hit in both games.
• Lizaola allowed eight hits but struck out four over 5.1 innings, while Garrett Cooper's 3.2 frames were the longest of any FPU reliever on Sunday.
• Fresno Pacific mustered just three hits in the second game, their lowest total of the young season.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Schellenberg has opened the season with a streak of 3.2 scoreless innings, while freshman Justin Fuson has allowed just one earned over his first 4.1 collegiate frames.  
• FPU has gone to extra innings twice already this season, and all three losses have been by just one run. 
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds and Seawolves are set to wrap up the series on Monday afternoon in Santa Rosa. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.