FRESNO, Calif.- The offense that the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (15-15 overall, 9-6 PacWest) have become accustomed to set the tone while the arm that has had familiar success for years helped complete the sweep of the Hawai'i Pacific Sharks (10-19 overall, 6-13 PacWest) Saturday at the FPU Diamond.
 
Tommy Rover and Koutarou Matsumaru combined to score six times to back six solid innings from starter Brady Crow in Fresno Pacific's 12-4 win in game one.
 
Justin Fuson backed up the offense's monster weekend with a classic pitching gem, completing the sweep with a 7-inning complete game to hold onto a 2-1 win.
 
The Sunbirds started in a deficit for the second consecutive game but the offense immediately responded with two runs in the bottom of the first.
 
Matsumaru and Rover reached to start the inning and created the first run on a double steal that brought Matsumaru home.
 
Rover came around to score on a sacrifice fly by Miguel Ortiz.
 
Crow settled in and held the Sharks scoreless over the next two innings.
 
That was enough of an opening for the Sunbirds with Matsumaru and Rover replicating their walk, single combo to start the bottom of the third.
 
After Andrew Valdez reached to load the bases, Hawai'i Pacific went to the bullpen.
 
Ortiz doubled into the left field corner, plating two runs and giving the Sunbirds a lead that they would not relinquish.
 
Shane Pursell tacked on another run with a sacrifice fly later in the inning to push the lead to 5-2.
 
The Sunbirds opened it up further in the fourth with Rover delivering a bases loaded double that scored two more.
 
Ortiz was intentionally walked in front of Pursell, who promptly singled in two more runs.
 
Up 9-2, Crow worked into the 7^th inning before turning the ball over to Kyle Jimenez.
 
The Sharks were able to get two more runs, attributed to Crow, before Jimenez thwarted any more opportunities.
 
The Sunbirds got those back plus one, with a three-run seventh.
 
Jimenez closed out the final two innings to earn the save and secure the series victory.
 
Fuson set the tone early in game two, striking out the first batter he faced before a one-out single.
 
In what would become a theme, Fuson relied on his defense for an inning-ending double-play.
 
But both teams remained scoreless into the bottom of the fourth inning.
 
Shane Pursell drew a leadoff walk before Chris Clement tripled off of the center field wall to break open the scoring.
 
Clement would later score on a fielder's choice when Isaiah Clark hustled down the line to beat the throw and prevent a double-play.
 
Fuson allowed another leadoff batter on in the fifth but induced another double-play to quell the threat.
 
Fuson surrendered a lead-off single in the 6^th that came around to score on an errant throw after a steal of third. He would get a groundout to escape any further damage.
 
With FPU leading 2-1 into the 7^th, the Sharks threatened with a leadoff single and sacrificed the runner to second.
 
A groundout got the tying run to third when Fuson pushed the hitter at the plate to two strikes.
 
HPU tried to sneak the runner home on a delayed steal in between pitches but Jordan Smith caught the runner halfway there, turning him back towards third before making the throw to Clement who made the tag and secured the sweep.
 
Fresno Pacific wrapped up a tremendous offensive series with a classic pitching performance from one of the best in the program's history, completing the first sweep of the season and positioning themselves in 2^nd place in the PacWest.
 
The Sunbirds will have a week of rest before hosting Hawai'i Hilo on April 10^th and 11^th for their final two home games of the regular season.
 
SOCIAL

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