FRESNO, Calif.-A strong start powered the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (16-16 overall, 10-7 PacWest) to a doubleheader split with the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans (20-14 overall, 11-12 PacWest) Monday evening at the FPU Diamond.
 
Garrett Cooper's solid start set the tone for FPU once again but the three-time All-PacWest performer received plenty of support in an 8-3 win in game one.
 
In game two, the Sunbirds 1-0 lead faded after a pair of homers by the Vulcans in the later half of the game turned into a 7-1 Hawai'i Hilo victory.
 
Cooper sat the Vulcans down in order to start the day but received defensive support from his infielders as Cole Yoshida and Tommy Rover made sparkling defensive plays to backup the starter.
 
The offense quickly delivered support in the bottom of the first as Andrew Valdez roped a RBI ground-rule double to open the scoring.
 
Two batters later, Miguel Ortiz mashed a two-run homer onto the courts in the middle of the ongoing tennis match.
 
The Sunbirds defense continued to back Cooper with a string of stellar defensive plays as Chris Clement and Jared Aguilar converted tough hops into outs.
 
The offense scored in each of its first five at bats to give Cooper plenty of cushion and put the game out of reach.
 
Cooper finished seven strong innings in line for the win and Jaylen Rodriguez pitched two scoreless innings of relief to close out the 8-3 victory.
 
Homers ruled game two, as Tommy Rover's solo homer well over the right field fence stood as the game's only run into the fifth inning.
 
But FPU couldn't get out of a bases loaded jam in the 5^th and a grand slam by Hilo turned the game on a dime.
 
The Vulcans added a two run homer as well as an unearned run in the 6^th to widen the margin to 7-1 before closing out the game in the 7^th.
 
Fresno Pacific will celebrate its seniors Tuesday with the final two home games, key PacWest conference games against Hawai'i Hilo at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.
 
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