FRESNO, Calif.- Despite charging out to a three run lead after two innings, the middle innings spelled the end of the season for the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds in a 13-6 loss to the Point Loma Sea Lions in the semifinal matchup of the PacWest Baseball Championships Thursday night at the FPU Diamond.
 
Point Loma had the early lead after a three run homer in the top of the first but Fresno Pacific responded immediately.
 
Andrew Valdez rocketed a solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the inning to get on the board before the Sunbirds strung together four consecutive singles to tie the game at 3-3 after one inning.
 
The 'Birds jumped in front on Tommy Rover's sacrifice fly and Jared Aguilar added onto the lead with a monstrous two run homer down the left field line.
 
Freshman starter Derek McNary kept Point Loma scoreless over the 2^nd, 3^rd and 4^th innings but the Sea Lions got closer on a pair of homers in the fifth.
 
Point Loma erupted for seven runs in the 6^th against the FPU bullpen and staked itself to a 12-6 lead.
 
The Sea Lions turned to their All-Conference closer Cole Hillier who slammed the door with four scoreless innings without allowing a hit and the Sea Lions tacked on one more run in the ninth to eliminate FPU.
 
Still, the Sunbirds season comes to an end after a strong year. Fresno Pacific ranked in the top three of the conference in batting average, ERA and fielding percentage and named seven players to the All-PacWest teams while making the first ever PacWest postseason tournament in Fresno.
 
The Sunbirds finish the season 24-23 and 17-12 in the PacWest, taking third in the conference.
 
 
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