IRVINE, Calif.- A two-run ninth innings forced extras before the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (23-21 overall, 17-12 PacWest) exploded for five runs in the tenth to win 11-6 before splitting the series with the Concordia Golden Eagles (19-25 overall, 14-17 PacWest) Saturday afternoon.
 
The Sunbirds used a three-run double from Koutarou Matsumaru in the top of the tenth to finally take the lead in a back and forth battle that saw FPU trail heading into the ninth inning.
 
Fresno Pacific scored first as Jared Aguilar's sacrifice fly scored Tommy Rover.
 
CUI scored in the bottom of the inning to tie it before taking a lead in the third.
 
The Sunbirds regained the lead in the fourth on Shane Pursell's two-run homer.
 
CUI scored two runs in each of the fifth and sixth innings and held a 6-4 advantage heading into the ninth.
 
Cole Yoshida and Rover each delivered run producing hits to tie the game.
 
After Gino Helmuth worked a scoreless ninth, the 'Birds quickly loaded the bases in the tenth.
 
Matsumaru's bases clearing double bounced off the fence in right center field and Andrew Valdez and Nolan Brown added to the lead.
 
Helmuth sealed the win in the tenth.
 
Concordia was able to grab the split in game two as the scored in each of the first five innings, capped off by a five run fifth.
 
Fresno Pacific's lone run came on Turner Pruitt's sacrifice fly that tied the game in the second.
 
Despite the loss in game two, Fresno Pacific split the series and the double-header with CUI and settles into third place in the PacWest as well as the 3^rd seed in the PacWest Championships.
 
Fresno Pacific will return home for the first time in a month on May 10^th to host that tournament in Fresno at the FPU Diamond. The Sunbirds will be joined by Point Loma, Azusa Pacific and Holy Names.
 
Ticket information and schedules will be announced in the next week.
 
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