SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team traveled down to Westmont College for their second conference matchup of the season. Although the 'Birds made several impactful plays, the Warriors took both games in the doubleheader, making the Sunbirds 10-9 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
 
GAME 1 | FPU 3, WC 10
To start the day off, Jake Turley made his return the mound after being out from the Biola series. He fared well against the nationally ranked Warriors, not allowing a single run in the first two innings.

The Sunbirds were the first to spark the fire in the third inning. Holden Hirschkorn made it home after reaching third and later scoring on a caught stealing play to put the team on the board. However, Westmont answered in kind within the same inning, scoring four runs, including a two-run homer that pushed them ahead 1-4.

In the fifth inning, Hirschkorn scored again for the Sunbirds after making subsequent steals and crossing home plate on Darryl Dilworth Jr.'s single. Dylan Senneway came in as relief for Turley, adopting two runners on base and no outs. After a fly out to left field, a stray Westmont run crossed home before he could strike out back-to-back batters to close it out, 2-5.
The sixth inning saw the Sunbirds add another run when Aaron Martinez Jr. scored on a hit-by-pitch to Tejean Smith with the bases loaded. The Warriors didn't allow the shortened deficit to last long as a two-RBI double and another run boosted them ahead 3-8. The seventh inning was no better as Westmont tallied two more runs, capitalizing on a sacrifice fly and an RBI single, stretching the lead to 10-3.

Tyler Gonzales closed out the game with 1 1/3 innings of work, allowing a hit and striking out one, maintaining a WHIP of 0.91. Overall, Turley pitched four innings and allowed five earned runs on four hits, including a home run, while issuing seven walks and striking out five batters. Despite a challenging outing with a WHIP of 2.75, Turley managed to induce foour flyouts and two groundouts. As relief, Senneway pitched 2 2/3 innings, giving up five earned runs on four hits with three walks and striking out five, while recording a WHIP of 3.18.
 
GAME 2 | FPU 4, WC 6
The Sunbirds' offense was highlighted by a three-run fifth inning, but Westmont secured the win with a pair of runs in the ninth.
Fresno Pacific took an early lead in the third inning when Hirschkorn singled and advanced to third on Smith's single. Vincent Robinson then delivered a sacrifice fly to center field, allowing Hirschkorn to score the first run of the game. The Sunbirds led 1-0 at the end of the third.

In the fifth inning, Fresno Pacific's offense gained momentum. Chris Clement walked, and Hirschkorn singled, advancing Clement to third. After Robinson was hit by a pitch, Dilworth drove in two runs with a double to right center. Garrett Henderson followed with an RBI single to center, bringing Dilworth home. The Sunbirds led 4-3 at the conclusion of the fifth inning.
However, Westmont tied it up at 4 after the seventh inning, and both teams remained scoreless in the eighth. In the ninth inning, the Warriors scored two runs on a two-run homer following a throwing error to secure their second win of the day.

On the mound, Zach Simmon pitched four innings for the 'Birds, allowing two earned runs on three hits, including a home run, while striking out three batters and walking three. Cruz Cabral pitched two innings without allowing an earned run, giving up two hits and hitting a batter, while managing to keep runners from scoring despite loading the bases. Damon McKenzie pitched 1/3 of an inning, surrendering two runs on a home run in the final frame.

NEXT UP: The 'Birds head into day two of the series on Saturday, March 7. The doubleheader starts at 11 am!
 
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