FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific and Western Oregon split a pair of ballgames at Dan Martin Stadium Saturday afternoon. The first game went to the 'Birds 5-0, but the Wolves came back from a three-run deficit to take the second game 5-3. FPU won the four-game series three games to one, moving their season record to 5-2.
GAME ONE
Reigning PacWest pitcher of the week
Connor Semone took the mound in his second start of the season, and was dealing once again. Despite issuing a lead off walk to WOU's Andre Jackson II in the first inning, Semone would pick him off the first base bag a few pitches later. The Sunbirds opened the scoring in the bottom half of the first when
Gabe Henderson came around to score off the bat of
Roman Rosales on a throwing error to first.
Neither team would see any offense over the next 2.5 innings, as starters Semone and the Wolves' Ayden Holker would combine for just one hit and no runs until the bottom of the fourth.
Tejean Smith led off the bottom of the fourth with a single down the left field line, and would advance to second on Rosales' single down the left field line. Smith would score on
Aaron Martinez Jr.'s double to deep right center.
The Sunbirds would add another in the fifth, this time off Rosales' single to right.
Trent Mallonee, who reached safely with a single, scored to make it 3-0.
The Wolves would threaten in the sixth, getting two runners aboard with one out, but Semone would get John Oleson and Gunner Shiotani to fly out and ground out, respectively, to end the danger. The 'Birds would load the bags in the bottom and add a fourth run when Martinez Jr scored on
Darryl Dilworth Jr.'s sac fly to right.
Semone wasted no time in the seventh and eighth innings, retiring six straight to move to the bottom of the eighth.
Jordan Smith would plate pinch runner
Eric Wilson on a groundout, giving the 'Birds a 5-0 lead going into the ninth.
Three outs from a complete game, Semone took the mound for the final time in the contest and was as dominant as ever. The senior retired his seventh, eighth, and ninth consecutive batters to give the Sunbirds a 5-0 game one win.
Semone would end the day with a complete game shutout, surrendering just three hits, three walks, and striking out seven. Rosales (2/4 2 RBI) and Martinez Jr (2/3 1 RBI) paced the Sunbird offense.
GAME TWO
The second game of the day and final of the four-game series began with
Dalton Alford taking the mound for the Sunbirds. Despite two walks issued, he would allow no hits and work through the inning unscathed.
Roman Rosales picked up where he left off in game one, scoring
Trent Mallonee in the bottom of the first, to give the 'Birds an early lead 1-0.
Alford would exit after two innings, despite giving up just one hit and striking out five.
Jake Turley came into the third and retired three of four batters, issuing one walk. Aaron Martinez Jr was hit by a pitch with two outs in the bottom half, and would extend FPU's lead to 2-0 after
Shane Pursell singled and
Ethan Tsui and
Eric Wilson walked.
FPU would make it 3-0 in the fourth when
Jacob Solorio plated
Gabe Henderson on a lined single up the middle. Henderson reached base on a soft infield roller that came to a complete stop along the foul line midway between home plate and third base.
Matt Bettencourt came in for Turley in the fifth inning and retired the WOU side in order. The 'Birds threatened in the bottom half with
Eric Wilson reaching third, but Mallonee flied out to right ending the inning.
The sixth inning got dicey for the Sunbirds, when new pitcher
Evan Fanconi loaded the bags full of Wolves on two walks and an error with no outs.
Dylan Senneway was summoned from the 'pen but was unable to stop the bleeding. A liner by Ruben Cedillo, and 4 pitch walk to Randy Stultz, and HBP on Zane Garvey would bring in three runs, tying the game. Roby Shepherd's deep flyout to center would plate a fourth run, and WOU would have their first lead of the series.
Tejean Smith made a leaping snag at short to end the inning with WOU leading 4-3.
Western Oregon added a fifth in the top of the seventh, and the 'Birds went quietly in the bottom half to give the visiting Wolves their lone win of the four-game series. Senneway would take the loss in a bullpen game that featured seven arms.
UP NEXT
The Sunbirds wrap up their season-opening homestand with a doubleheader against PacWest Conference newcomer Jessup University on Thursday. Both games will be telecasted on
ESPN 790 AM and the
PacWest Network.
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