LINCOLN, Calif.- In their first road/home series of the year, the Fresno Pacific Sunbirds fell in both games of a double header Saturday at McBean Park to the Jessup Warriors.
GAME ONE
The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds opened their doubleheader against Jessup with a frustrating 2-0 loss, as their offense failed to generate any scoring despite a solid pitching performance. The Sunbirds mustered only three hits over nine innings and were shut out for the first time this season.
The game remained scoreless through the first inning, with senior pitcher Josiah O'Bannon, working efficiently. However, the Warriors broke through in the second when they strung together a double and a pair of stolen bases, including one to home plate to take a 1-0 lead. O'Bannon settled back in to end the inning, but in the third inning, he allowed a solo home run, extending Jessup's lead to 2-0. O'Bannon finished with an impressive stat line, tossing seven innings, allowing just five hits, two earned runs, and striking out eight while walking three.
Offensively, the 'Birds' struggles were evident throughout. Only managing three hits, a pair of singles from Chris Clement and Shane Pursell, and a double from Jordan Smith. The Sunbirds' best scoring opportunity came in the third when Smith doubled, after the Pursell single, but the was called out at the plate after a relay from the left fielder to the short stop to the catcher to catch him at the plate. The Sunbirds left a total of four runners stranded and failed to advance anyone past second base after the third inning.
Defensively, Fresno Pacific played a clean game with no errors, and Jordan Smith was solid behind the plate, recording 11 putouts. Despite strong defensive support, the Sunbirds simply couldn't find the offensive spark needed to back O'Bannon's solid start.
GAME TWO
In the second game of the doubleheader, Fresno Pacific once again struggled to find consistent offense, falling 4-1 to Jessup. The Sunbirds got off to a promising start, scoring in the first inning when T. Mallonee led off with a double and later crossed the plate on a fielding error. However, that would be the only run Fresno Pacific managed, as they were held scoreless for the remainder of the seven-inning contest.
Fresno Pacific recorded five hits in the game, including doubles from Mallonee and A. Cappas. Despite showing more activity on the bases than in the first game, the Sunbirds left five runners stranded and hit into several untimely outs, failing to generate momentum against the Warrior's pitching staff. The team's baserunning was a positive, as they stole four bases, with Mallonee, T. Smith, Henderson, and Dilworth, Jr. each swiping a bag. However, aggressive running also led to a caught stealing, limiting opportunities to capitalize on baserunners.
On the mound, starter Tim Ruiz worked 3.2 innings, allowing two runs on two hits while striking out three. However, control issues plagued his outing, as he hit three batters, walked two, and threw two wild pitches. The Warriors capitalized on these mistakes, pushing across runs on sacrifice flies and groundouts. Bettencourt entered in relief and pitched the final two innings, but he also struggled, surrendering two more runs on three hits while recording two strikeouts. The 'Birds' pitching combined for six strikeouts, but the four free passes (two walks and two wild pitches) proved costly.
Defensively, the Sunbirds had an uncharacteristic lapse, committing one error in the outfield that allowed Jessup to extend an inning and score an insurance run. Roman Rosales had a busy game at first base, recording four putouts and an assist, while catcher Ethan Tsui struggled to control Jessup's running game, allowing two stolen bases.
With the loss, Fresno Pacific fell to 5-5 on the season and dropped both games of the doubleheader. The Sunbirds will look to rebound quickly and even the series as the Warriors travel to Dan Martin Stadium for a double header Monday with game one starting at 12pm, with game two to follow apporoximately 30 mins after the last out of game one.
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