FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds fell in both games a double-header Monday afternoon at Dan Martin Stadium to the Jessup Warriros giving the Warriors the 4-0 sweep of the 'Birds.
GAME ONE
Fresno Pacific started the day strong, jumping out to an early lead, but a resilient Jessup squad mounted a late comeback to hand the Sunbirds a 3-2 loss in the opening game of the doubleheader. The Sunbirds struck quickly in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on Jessup's early mistakes. Trent Mallonee led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Shane Pursell then reached on an error by the Warrior's shortstop, allowing both runners to advance into scoring position. Tejean Smith put the Sunbirds on the board with an RBI groundout, scoring Mallonee, and Roman Rosales followed with an RBI single, plating Pursell and giving Fresno Pacific a 2-0 lead.
For the next several innings, both pitching staffs controlled the game. Connor Semone delivered a strong performance on the mound for Fresno Pacific, keeping the Warriors off the scoreboard through the first five frames. He effectively mixed his pitches, scattering hits and keeping the Warrior's batters off balance. Jessup finally broke through in the top of the sixth inning when Dominic Ott led off with a triple to center field and was driven in by Drew Andrews' single up the middle, cutting the deficit to 2-1.
In the seventh inning, Jessup managed to tie the game when Nick Poss reached on a single and later came around to score on a wild pitch, making it 2-2. Fresno Pacific had a chance to respond in the bottom of the seventh but was unable to capitalize, stranding a runner in scoring position. The decisive moment came in the eighth inning when Jessup's Tony Otis delivered a clutch solo home run, putting the Warriors ahead 3-2.
The Sunbirds fought to generate a response but could not break through against the Warrior's bullpen. They got a runner aboard in the bottom of the eighth when Chris Clement singled and stole second, but a strikeout ended the threat. In the ninth, Fresno Pacific went down in order as Jessup secured the come-from-behind victory to take game one. Despite out-hitting Jessup 6-5, the 'Birds offense went cold after the first inning, and the inability to capitalize on runners in scoring position proved costly.
GAME TWO
Game two of the doubleheader was a wild back-and-forth contest, with Fresno Pacific jumping out to an early five-run lead, only for Jessup to storm back in the fifth and sixth innings to steal a 9-8 victory. The Sunbirds' offense ignited immediately, scoring one run in the first and four more in the second. In the bottom of the first, Aaron Martinez Jr. ripped an RBI double down the left-field line, scoring Mallonee, who had singled to start the game.
The biggest inning came in the second as Fresno Pacific pushed across four runs to take a commanding lead. Garrett Perkins started the rally with a single, followed by Gavin Enns reaching on an error. Evan Fanconi was hit by a pitch, loading the bases with one out. Micah Barkenhagen then delivered a two-RBI single, plating Perkins and Enns. Fanconi and Barkenhagen executed a double steal, and on a fielder's choice, another run came home. Chris Clement capped off the inning with an RBI ground-out, making it 5-0 Fresno Pacific.
The Sunbirds added another added another two runs in the fourth thanks to back-to-back RBI singles from Mallonee and Martinez Jr., extending their lead to 7-0. Their final run came in the fifth, when Barkenhagen knocked in his third RBI of the game, putting Fresno Pacific ahead 8-0.
However, the Warrior's offense finally came alive in the top of the fifth, taking advantage of Fresno Pacific's pitching struggles. Sam Cooper, who had been strong through four innings, suddenly lost command, walking two batters and allowing a a double to Drew Andrews. Kayde Iranon followed with an RBI single,, and after another walk, Jessup tacked on five runs in the inning to cut the lead to 8-5.
The Warriors continued their surge in the sixth inning, putting up another four runs to take the lead. Tony Otis smacked a two-run single, and a wild pitch allowed another run to score. Fresno Pacific turned to its bullpen, but Matt Bettencourt surrendered the go-ahead RBI ground out to Dominic Ott, giving Jessup it's first lead of the game at 9-8.
With three innings left to play, Fresno Pacific had multiple opportunities to tie the game or retake the lead, but the Warriors's bullpen held strong. In the bottom of the sixth, A. Martinez Jr. was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a wild pitch, but the 'Birds couldn't bring him home. In the seventh inning, Jacob Solorio singled, and Tejean Smith pinch-ran to put speed on the bases, but the Warrior's closer Joey Miller struck out the final batter, stranding the tying run and sealing Fresno Pacific's heartbreaking loss.
Despite out-hitting Jessup 11-7, Fresno Pacific's pitching staff issued nine walks, allowing the Warriors to slowly chip away at the 'Birds lead. The combination of defensive miscues, wild pitches, and command issues ultimately cost the 'Birds the game, as Jessup completed an improbable comeback.
UP NEXT
The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds head out to Hilo for a four game series with the Hawai'i Hilo Vulcans. The series will kick off with a double header starting on Friday at 5p.m PST.
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