FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team dropped the opener of a four-game set on Thursday night, falling 6-1 to 12th-ranked Colorado Mesa at FPU Diamond. Starting pitcher Esteban Lizaola racked up a career-high 12 strikeouts in the loss, one shy of FPU's single-game record. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Final: #12 Colorado Mesa 6, Fresno Pacific 1
Records: FPU (2-4), #12 CMU (8-1)
Location: FPU Diamond | Fresno, Calif.
Series: CMU leads 1-0
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• What looked to be an inning-ending double play ball in the top of the first ended up as an error and the first Maverick run of the game.  
• Two more runs crossed the plate before FPU could find the third out, putting the Sunbirds in an early 3-0 hole.
• CMU went right back to work the following inning, pushing the lead to 5-0 after Caleb Farmer plated two with a single down the left field line.
 • Lizaola finally saw his day come to a close after seven strong innings, giving way to righthander Josue Mendivil out of the Sunbird bullpen.  
• Mendivil retired the side in order in the eighth, and Michael Warkentin beat out a bases-loaded infield single in the home half to get the Blue and Orange on the scoreboard.  
• Southpaw Fabian Galvan made his collegiate debut in the ninth, picking up the final two outs of the inning.  
• Garrett Cooper came up with a pinch-hit single with two outs and the bases empty in the bottom half, but the Sunbirds were unable to cut any further into the deficit. 
 
 STATS FROM THE DAY
• Lizaola turned in seven innings and allowed just two earned runs over his seven innings of work. 
• Maverick starter J.R. McDermott improved to 2-0 on the season after whiffing seven Sunbirds over five innings and some change.  
• After an easy inning from reliever Jett Wodiuk, Andrew Morris tossed the final three chapters for CMU, earning the save along the way.
• Warkentin turned in a 3-for-5 effort at the dish, while Tristen Alvarez provided the Sunbirds with another multi-hit performance.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Lizaola's 12 strikeouts are one shy of a program record and the most by any Sunbird pitcher since Wilson Ashford in 2015.
• FPU has been held to under two runs on three occasions this spring, and they are 0-3 in those games.
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds and Mavericks are back at it on Friday afternoon with a doubleheader to continue the series. First pitch from FPU Diamond is slated for 2:00 p.m.