HILO, Hawaii – The Fresno Pacific baseball team closed out its first PacWest series on Saturday, splitting the two games with a 7-3 win in game one, followed by a 1-0 loss in game two, resulting in a series split.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Sunbirds jumped out to a 3-0 led in the first inning after Andrew Valdez hit into a fielder's choice that plated Khalid Johnson and was then brought in on a single from Jared Aguilar.
• The third run came in when Dante Valdez hit a single to left field, and an error allowed Andrue Lackey to score.
• Hilo was able to get two runs back in the third inning, but FPU was able to make it 4-2 with a Matt McGrady sacrifice fly that brought in Johnson for his second run of the game.
• After another run from Hilo in the fourth to make it 4-3, the Sunbirds were able to score two in the top of the fifth after a single by Kyle Willman that resulted in an error where he scored, alongside D. Valdez.
• FPU added their seventh run in the top of the ninth inning on an RBI single to right-center field, and D. Valdez was able to score again on another throwing error.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• Johnson went 3-for-5 in the win with two triples and two runs.
• A. Valdez, McGrady, Aguilar and Willman all drove in runs in the contest.
• Justin Fuson pitched seven innings with six strikeouts.
• Brady Crow earned the save in three innings of relief with three strikeouts and no walks.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The final game of the series was a pitcher's dual that only resulted in one run by Hilo in the third inning.
• The Sunbirds had Aguilar in scoring position in the second inning after hitting a two-out single and advancing to second on a passed ball, but was unable to score
• In the fourth inning, McGrady reached on a leadoff walk, followed by a single from Lackey. But a double play followed by a strikeout ended the FPU scoring threat.
• In the sixth inning, A. Valdez reached on an error by the Hilo third baseman, and McGrady was able to get on after being hit by a pitch.
• The Sunbirds attempted a double steal in which A. Valdez advanced to third, but McGrady was thrown out at second. Lackey struck out to end the inning, stranding A. Valdez at third.
• In the final inning, Ben Jungbluth hit a two-out double, but a groundout by Cole Yoshida ended the game.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• The Sunbirds' three hits in the game came from Lackey, Aguilar and Jungbluth.
• Michael Barker pitched five innings with six strikeouts.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Blue and Orange will continue their Hawaii road trip with a four-game series against Hawaii Pacific on Wednesday and Thursday. Games one and two will start at 4 p.m., and the series will close with a doubleheader on Thursday starting at 4 p.m.
 
SUNBIRD SOCIAL

• Twitter - @fpusunbirds
• Instagram - @fpusunbirds
• Facebook - /FPUathletics