FRESNO, Calif.- Solid pitching was the difference in both ends of the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds (3-2 overall) double-header split 10-1 and 6-5 (9 innings) with the Sonoma State Seawolves (5-2 overall) Friday night at the FPU Diamond.

Connor Semone dealt for seven solid innings limiting the Seawolves to just one run while striking out five.

After a clean first, the Sunbirds gave Semone a lead behind the first three batters singling to start the game. Gabe Henderson, Tommy Rover and Andrew Valdez all sparked the offense with Valdez bringing home Henderson and Trent Mallonee's fielder's choice making it 2-0.

The 'Birds tacked on three more runs in the fifth on a two-run double by Cole Brincefield and Griffith Fenn's RBI single.

Up 5-1 after Semone's final inning in the 7^th, the Sunbirds opened it up as an RBI by Justin Tiger was the prelude to a four-run eighth.

Jacob Solorio belted a double, his second hit of the game, two drive in two before Donte Valdez backed it up with a two-run double of his own.

Riley Creech closed the game with two scoreless innings for Fresno Pacific.

In game two, things stayed scoreless through the first two and a half innings before Andrew Valdez roped a two-run blast deep over the left field fence.

That was strong support for Gino Helmuth who tossed four solid innings before running into trouble in the fifth.

While Helmuth ended with 6 k's in 4.1 innings, he left runners on when he turned it over to the bullpen and Sunbird pitching would combine for 10 walks what turned out to be a nine-inning game.

Six walks in the first five innings swayed the momentum into the visiting dugout and Sonoma State scored three while pushing out Helmuth to take the lead in the fifth.

The Seawolves added two more in the sixth but FPU roared back with a three-run sixth to tie the game.

Both teams turned to relievers that ended up dueling like aces over the final four innings.

But FPU couldn't crack Scotty Kato and had just one baserunner over the final three innings while Josiah O'Bannon navigated murky waters over four innings before finally conceding a run in the ninth.

O'Bannon was hung with the tough-luck loss after striking out four over four innings and giving up just the one run.

Andrew Valdez, Josh Pernetti and Gabe Henderson each had four hit days to lead the FPU offense.

The Sunbirds conclude the series on Saturday at 11:00 am against Sonoma State on FPU Diamond.

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