FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team opened the 2021 campaign on Friday, routing Simpson 29-5 in the opener of a doubleheader before taking the nightcap by a final of 6-3. Starting pitchers Justin Fuson and Matt Stearns each earned their first victory of the season, while Nick Dodd racked up five hits and six RBI for the day. 
 
QUOTABLE:  

• "It's great to be back on the field and having our guys get to play. We were fighting adrenaline all day long. Lots of things went our way in the first game, and we didn't put it together as well in the second game. Our starters put us in a position to win, and I was really happy with what we got from our bullpen. We need to pay attention to the details and get control of our emotions. We have two more great starters going tomorrow, and it's up to us to play good baseball."

 
HOW IT HAPPENED:  

• Fuson retired the side in order with some help from a tailor-made double play ball, and the Sunbird offense wasted no time going to work. 
• Haden Haynes monster three-run shot highlighted a six-run first inning for FPU that chased Simpson starter Paul Gallegos early. 
• The Redhawks scratched across a pair of runs to answer in the top of the third, but the Blue and Orange went right back to work, scoring eight, five, six and four runs over the next four innings. 
• Simpson got a couple back in the top of the ninth, but the Sunbirds cruised to the early victory. 
• The bats went right back to work in Game 2, with Matt McGrady and Mitch Silvas coming in to score in the first before Isaac Gonzalez and Michael Warkentin followed suit an inning later. 
• The Redhawks made a game of it in the top of the third, plating three unearned runs in the frame. 
• FPU waited until the fifth to provide some insurance, but hits from Dodd and Jack Foote helped push the Sunbird lead to 6-3. 
• Jared Aguilar made his season debut on the mound for the 'Birds, recording a rare four-strikeout inning to earn his first save of the year. 

 
STATS FROM THE DAY:  

• Six Sunbird hitters came away with a multi-hit performance in the opener, while four (Haynes, McGrady, Aguilar, Brian Hefner) launched home runs. 
• Six of the FPU arms that saw action on Friday managed to escape with no ERA to speak of, totaling 20 strikeouts along the way. 
• FPU went a perfect 8-of-8 in stolen base attempts for the day, while the opener has the offense hitting .361 as a team. 

 
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• FPU's 29 runs in Game 1 is two shy of the program record of 31, which came in a 12-run victory over Biola in 2010. 
• 29 runs is the most ever scored in a single-game at FPU Diamond. 
• The Sunbirds have won back-to-back games to start the season for the second straight year. 

 
UP NEXT:  

• The Sunbirds and Redhawks will hit the reset button for another twin bill on Saturday, with first pitch slated for noon. Live stats and video streaming are available at FPUAthletics.com free of charge.  

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