FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team came up with a walk off hit in the tenth inning on Thursday night, defeating #25 Azusa Pacific 8-7 at FPU Diamond. Angel Flores provided the heroics for the Blue and Orange, picking up the game-winning hit with the bases loaded. 
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Game 1: Fresno Pacific 8, Azusa Pacific 7 (10 innings)
Records: FPU (17-21, 13-12 PacWest), APU (31-11, 21-4 PacWest)
Location: FPU Diamond | Fresno, Calif.  
All-Time Series: 31-31 
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The Cougars doubled in a run to open the scoring in the top of the first, but the Sunbirds answered with a three-run moonshot off the bat of Brian Hefner.  
• Flores added a sac fly an inning later to push the lead to 4-1, and a Ross Dodds double in the fourth added another Sunbird run.     
• Jared Aguilar singled up the middle to plate Nick Dodd in the fifth, and Hefner followed with a sac fly to give FPU a 7-1 lead.  
• APU hit a trio of solo shots over the next two innings, cutting the Sunbird advantage to 7-4 before the stretch.   
• Defending PacWest Freshman of the Year Osvaldo Tovalin doubled in a run in the eighth before pulling the Cougars within one run with a single in the top of the ninth.    
• Justin Gomez singled to tie the game at 7-7, but APU stranded the bases loaded to give FPU a shot at a walk-off.   
• FPU left the winning run at third base in the bottom of the ninth but managed to save plenty of drama for the following inning.
• Pinch hitter Matt McGrady opened the home tenth with a double to right, and Michael Warkentin was intentionally walked with an out two batters later.
• Tristen Alvarez drew a two-out walk to load the bases, and Flores singled through the left side to plate the winning run.  
 
STATS FROM THE DAY
• The heart of the order did the bulk of the damage for the 'Birds, as Dodd, Alvarez, Flores, Aguilar and Hefner combined for 13 hits and all eight RBI.
• Starting pitcher Nic Boatman was hit for five earned runs on seven hits in seven innings and some change.  
• Tyler Rumbaugh was the first man out of the FPU pen, overcoming a walk to record two outs before Garrett Cooper came on from right field. 
• Kobie Anton picked up the win for the Sunbirds after picking up the final four outs of the game.
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• The Sunbirds have now defeated three nationally-ranked teams at FPU Diamond this season.  
• Hefner added to his team lead in home runs and now has six for the season.
• Anton picked up his first win of the season, becoming the ninth Sunbird to record a winning decision.  
 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds and Cougars are back at it on Friday, when they resume the series with a doubleheader at the Diamond. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m., with the second game scheduled for seven innings.