SAN DIEGO, Calif.- The Fresno Pacific Sunbirds started off strong Saturday taking game one with an impressive offensive performance, led by
Roman Rosales' grand slam, but their pitching faltered in game two, leading to a tough loss, splitting the 2-2 with the Point Loma Sea Lions.
GAME ONE
The Sunbirds wasted no time getting on the board, striking for four runs in the top of the first inning.
Gabe Henderson singled and advanced to second on an infield single by
Jacob Solorio. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Rosales stepped up and delivered the game's biggest moment—a towering grand slam over the left-field wall, sending the Fresno Pacific dugout into a frenzy and giving the Sunbirds a 4-0 lead.
The 'Birds continued their aggressive approach in the fifth, and final solo home run by Aaron Martinez Jr., extending the lead to 5-0.
After six scoreless innings, Point Loma finally broke through. After a lead-off single, the Sea Lions blasted a pair of home runs to bring them within two, 5-3, at the end of the sixth.
Fresno Pacific responded in the seventh inning taking advantage of a pair of Sea Lion errors to regain control. After Henderson reached on a walk, a pair of errors allowed Martinez Jr., and Solorio to reach and Henderson to score. Micah Barkenhagen would ground out for the second out, scoring Martinez Jr. to put the 'Birds up 7-3 to end the seventh.
The bottom of the eighth proved tense as Point Loma refused to go down quietly. The Sea Lions started the inning with a double to right field, but the 'Birds managed to get a quick pair of outs. With two outs, a pair of walks loaded the bases for the Sea Lions. A hit by pitch brought in a run, but the Sunbirds' Andrew Barger came up big with a swinging strikeout to get out of the inning, with the 'Birds still holding their 7-5 advantage.
The Sunbirds turned Dylan Senneway, who immediately found himself in trouble after issuing a walk to bring the tying run to the plate. However, Senneway held his composure and forced a pair of fly outs. The final out of the game came after Daryl Dilworth Jr., who made a Sports Center Top Ten play reaching over the right field fence and robbing the Sea Lions from a game winning home run, sealing the win for the 'Birds.
GAME TWO
After a tightly contested game one, Point Loma came out swinging in game two, overwhelming Fresno Pacific with a relentless offensive display in a 10-3 victory.
Fresno Pacific once again struck first, scoring in the top of the first inning. Martinez Jr. came through with an RBI single to bring home Mallonee, giving the Sunbirds a 1-0 lead.
However, Point Loma responded immediately with a solo home run to center field, knotting the game 1-1.
The Sea Lions continued their momentum into the third, scoring a trio of runs taking advantage of a throwing error and a passed ball, taking a 4-1 lead.
Fresno Pacific scored a lone run in the fourth, after Solorio reached on a throwing error. Eric Wilson would come in to pinch run and score after a sac-fly by Rosales, to bring the 'Birds back within two.
However, any hopes of a Fresno Pacific rally were quickly dashed, as Point Loma tacked on six runs, in the fifth and sixth, to put the game out of reach.
The Sea Lions' bullpen shut down the 'Birds offense the rest of the way, sealing the 10-3 win, splitting the series with the Sunbirds.
UP NEXT
The Sunbirds will head back down to Southern California next weekend for a four game series with the Concordia University Golden Eagles, starting on Friday, April 4th with first pitch scheduled for 2pm.
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