FRENSO, Calif. - The Fresno Pacific University men's baseball team hosted Concordia in a PacWest Conference doubleheader on Friday afternoon. The Sunbirds dominate against in game one, as Garret Cooper threw seven scoreless innings while the offenses erupted for nine runs in a 9-0 victory. The In game two, the Sunbirds were able to rally in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings to tie the game, but ultimately fell short 6-4 in 10 innings.
GAME 1
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Sunbirds and Eagles were scoreless through two innings before FPU blew it open.
- Khalid Johnson led off the third single and found himself on third after a solen base and a passed ball.
- Tommy Rover followed with a walk and a stolen base to put runners in scoring position for Andrew Valdez.
- A. Valdez had a productive out, grounding out the short stop but pushing across Johnson to the put the Birds up 1-0.
- Later with two outs in the inning, seven consecutive Sunbirds would reach base.
- Jared Aguilar singled home Rover to put the team up 2-0.
- Donte Valdesz ripped a triple to deep left center field, pushing Aguilar across to go up 3-0.
- Gavin VanGronigen kept the party going with a double down the left field line that put FPU up 4-0.
- After a Kyle Willman walk, Cole Yoshida smacked a ball up the middle that plated another run.
- Johnson came to the plate for the second time in the inning, lacing a double into the gap that scored Willman and Yoshida to put the Birds up 7-0.
- Andrue Lackey put an exclamation mark on the offensive outburst, smashing a two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth.
- The 9-0 lead would stick throughout the game, as the Sunbirds opened the series with a 9-0 victory.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- Cooper was excellent on the bump in game one, throwing seven scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
- Johnson and Lackey led the club with two runs batted in each.
- Johnson, Lackey, Aduilar and Yoshida had two hits apiece.
- The Sunbirds cranked out 13 hits in game one, with five going for extra bases.
GAME 2
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The Eagles struck first in the top of the third inning, but the Sunbirds were able to respond in the bottom half, thanks to an RBI triple from Johnson, plating Yoshida to tie the game 1-1.
- FPU was able to take the lead in the bottom of the sixth when Lackey was able to drive in Rover with two outs, but a three-run home run from Concordia in the top half of the seventh gave the Eagles a 4-2 lead.
- In the bottom of the seventh, D. Valdez led the inning off with a solo shot to right-center field, making it 4-3.
- In the bottom of the eighth, Johnson hit a leadoff infield single to start the inning. With one out, he stole second, and with two outs, Lackey drove him in for his second RBI of the game, tying the contest up 4-4 with one inning to play.
- Neither team was able to score in the ninth, despite the Sunbirds having bases loaded.
- In the 10th inning, Concordia was able to score two runs to make it 6-4, and they put FPU away in order to split the doubleheader.
STATS FROM THE GAME
- Lackey had two hits with two runs driven in.
- Johnson went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run.
- D. Valdez went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run and a run scored.
- Michael Barker struck out eight batters while only walking one in his six and two-thirds innings on the mound.
- Brady Crow threw one and two-thirds innings of relief, striking out two batters.
UP NEXT
The Blue and Orange will host Concordia in PacWest Conference play on Friday and Saturday. Friday's doubleheader is scheduled to start at 2 p.m., with Saturday's doubleheader scheduled for 12 p.m.
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