FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team capped off a four-game sweep on Saturday over Holy Names, breaking the six-series split streak. The Sunbirds took game one on Saturday 3-2, followed by a 9-2 win in the second game.
 
GAME ONE
HOW IT HAPPENED

• Justin Fuson threw three pitches to start the game before a one-hour rain delay halted the start of Saturday's doubleheader.
• After the tarp was pulled back and play was resumed, the Hawks took their first lead of the series in the first inning, going up 1-0.
• The Sunbirds were scoreless in the first three innings, but they were able to tie the game in the bottom of the fourth thanks to a double from Andrue Lackey down the left-field line that plated Matt McGrady.
• In the top of the fifth, HNU answered by going back up by one run, but a two-run effort from the Sunbirds in the bottom half of the inning gave them the lead, which they would hold on to for the remainder of the game and get the win.
• It started when Donte Valdez led the inning off by being hit by a pitch and then advancing to second on a throwing error by the catcher trying to pick him off at first base.
• A bunt single from Garret Santos put runners on first and third with no outs, and a sacrifice bunt from Kyle Willman brought in D. Valdez to tie the game 2-2.
• After a Cole Yoshida walk, Santos was able to cross home on a fielder's choice that allowed Khalid Johnson to reach first, giving the Sunbirds a 3-2 lead.
• Fuson was able to hold the Hawks scoreless in the sixth inning, which was his last inning of work, and John Lloyd and Brady Crow were able to shut HNU down in the final three innings to secure the win and the series.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• Johnson went 2-for-5 at the plate in the contest.
• Fuson struck out five batters in his six innings of work on the mound and earned the win.
• Lloyd struck out three in two and two-thirds innings of relief.
• Crow recorded the final out and earned the save.

 
GAME TWO
HOW IT HAPPENED

• After two scoreless innings, the Sunbirds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third inning after a double from Tommy Rover brought in Johnson, followed by an error from the HNU third baseman allowing Rover to cross the plate.
• The Hawks got one back in the top of the fourth to make it 2-1, but a single from Rover in the bottom half brought in Yoshida for his second RBI of the game.
• The Hawks wouldn't go away easy, adding their second run of the game in the top of the fifth to make it a one-run game, but a big sixth inning from FPU made it 9-2.
• It started when Shane Pursell led the inning off with an infield single before advancing to second base on a wild pitch.
• Willman followed by being hit by a pitch, and both him and Pursell moved up a base on another wild pitch before Garrett Cooper was intentionally walked to load the bases with no outs.
• Yoshida was able to single up the middle, bringing in Pursell and Willman to make it 5-2 and still no outs.
• With runners on the corners, Johnson was able to drive in Cooper from third with a single to left field, and a sacrifice bunt from Rover put runners at second and third with just one out.
• After a passed ball plated Yoshida and moved Johnson to third, Jared Aguilar was able to draw a walk, followed by a single to right field by Andrew Valdez, that brought in Johnson and Aguilar to make it 9-2.
• Crow was able to shut the Hawks down to earn the save and give the Sunbirds the series sweep.

 
STATS FROM THE GAME

• Rover went 2-for-3 at the plate with two RBI and a run scored.
• Johnson matched Rover with a 2-for-3 day with a double and two runs scored.
• Matt Stearns earned the win on the mound in one and two-thirds inning pitched in relief.
• Crow earned his second save of the day after two and one-third innings pitched.

 
UP NEXT
 
The Blue and Orange will stay home next weekend for a four-game series against Biola. Games one and two are scheduled for a 2 p.m start time on Friday, with games three and four starting at noon on Saturday.
 
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