LA MIRADA, Calif. – After falling 11-5 to Biola in the series opener on Friday, the Fresno Pacific baseball team used a nine-run ninth inning to bounce back and take the nightcap by a final of 11-9. The final frame of the day featured five Sunbird hits and two Eagle errors, giving the Blue and Orange their biggest inning since an 11-run eighth inning against Holy Names on April 13, 2016.
 
INSIDE THE MATCHUP: 
Game 1: Biola 11, Fresno Pacific 5
Game 2: Fresno Pacific 11, Biola 9
Records: FPU (10-17, 6-8 PacWest), Biola (17-13, 8-10)
Location: Eagles Diamond | La Mirada, Calif.
Series: Tied 18-18
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:
• The 'Birds drew first blood in the opener, with Brian Hefner singling through the right side for the first run of the game. Jared Aguilar followed with a sac fly to give FPU an early 2-0 lead.  
• An inning later, a throwing error allowed reigning PacWest Freshman of the Week Garret Laine to come in and score from second.
• Biola got a run back in the home half on a passed ball before taking a 5-3 lead in the fourth inning.    
• Ross Dodds' fielder's choice brought the Sunbirds with a run in the top of the sixth, but the Eagles quickly went back to work and pushed the lead to 8-4.  
• Ryan Gallegos lifted a two-run shot over the wall in left after the stretch to put Biola on top 10-4.   
• Dodds singled home FPU's final run of the game in the eight, but Jarron Largusa flew out to deep right to make sure Biola's lead stayed at six runs.
• Biola jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the second inning of the nightcap before adding three more over the next two innings, but the Eagles ran out of offensive steam after their first four trips to the plate. 
• Garrett Cooper reached on a fielder's choice in the fifth to get FPU on the scoreboard for the first time, but the Sunbirds waited until the eighth inning to strike again. 
• Jarrett Anton came off the Sunbird bench for a pinch-hit opportunity to begin the eighth, homering to left-center for his first hit of the season.
• Dodds was hit by a 1-2 pitch with one out in the ninth, and Angel Flores followed with a four-pitch walk to give the Sunbirds some life.
• Two batters later, Aguilar singled through the left side to load the bases, and Anton was hit by a pitch to bring the 'Birds within striking distance.
• Matt McGrady pinch hit and delivered with a bases-clearing double, and, following a pitching change, Laine reached on a fielding error from the Eagle infield.
• Tristen Alvarez then beat out an infield single for his first hit of the game, and another error helped the Sunbirds cut the deficit to just two.
• With FPU down to its' final out, Dodds came up with an infield single of his own to load the bases once more, and Flores doubled off the wall in left-center to make it an 11-9 game. 
• The Eagles refused to go quietly, putting the tying run aboard with two outs in the home half.
• The final out was a soft flyout to center, giving the Sunbirds their first win of the series.
 
STATS FROM THE DAY
• Hefner went 4-for-4 in the opener, while Laine and Angel Flores picked up two hits apiece.   
• Nic Boatman took the loss for the Sunbirds after getting tagged with seven earned runs on eight hits in 5.2 innings.   
• Josh Acosta was the first man out of the Sunbird bullpen but issued a walk and surrendered a hit without recording an out.  
• The Sunbirds then went to Carson Schellenberg, who tossed the final 2.1 innings, but only after allowing three earned runs.  
• Flores' 3-for-4 effort led the way in the nightcap, while McGrady and Anton combined for five RBI.
• Starter Justin Fuson was chased after just two innings on the hill, and reliever Tyler Rumbaugh held the Eagles to three runs over the next five chapters.
• Andrue Lackey picked up his first collegiate win after overcoming a pair of walks in the eighth, paving the way for lefthander Kobie Anton to pick up his first save of the year.  
 
BEYOND THE BOX:
• Biola had only given up five runs in the ninth inning all season prior to Friday.
• The Eagles were previously 10-0 this season when leading after eight innings. They are now 9-13 against Division II teams this spring.
• The Eagle pitching staff has now been on the wrong end of comeback attempts in back-to-back weeks, as Biola blew an 11-0 first-inning lead last week against Azusa Pacific but ultimatley held on to win 17-15. 
• Biola's record for most runs allowed in a single game came in 2010, when Fresno Pacific won the game 31-19 in La Mirada.   

 
SOCIAL:
• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds 
• Facebook - /FPUathletics
 
UP NEXT:
• The Sunbirds and Eagles are back in action on Friday, when they wrap up the series with another twin bill. First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m. in La Mirada.