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dustin tinsley
4
CUI CUIBASE 29-22
14
Winner FPU FPU_26 26-23
CUI CUIBASE
29-22
4
Final
14
FPU FPU_26
26-23
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
CUI CUIBASE 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 4 8 1
FPU FPU_26 0 1 4 0 6 0 0 3 14 12 0

W: Stalnaker, Andrew (2-0) L: Wyatt Madison (5-3)

0
CUI CUIBASE 29-23
7
Winner FPU FPU_26 27-23
CUI CUIBASE
29-23
0
Final
7
FPU FPU_26
27-23
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E
CUI CUIBASE 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1
FPU FPU_26 0 0 0 6 1 0 X 7 9 0

W: Tinsley, Dustin (5-1) L: Michael Panichi (4-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

'Birds Overwhelm Golden Eagles in Series Finale

Smith Goes 5-5, Hirschkorn Hits the Walkoff, & Tinsley Gets The Shutout

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team bounced back in every way for the home series split against Concordia, defeating the Golden Eagles by mercy rule in the first game and a 7-0 shutout in the second. Second baseman Smith and rightfielder Hirschkorn were crucial pieces to the puzzle alongside Sunbird pitcher Dustin Tinsley.
 
GAME 1 | FPU 14, CUI 4 (Mercy Rule)

Starting the doubleheader an hour earlier, Zach Simmon took to the mound for FPU. The Golden Eagles jumped ahead with two runs in the first inning, but the Sunbirds stopped their early drive with efficient infield plays and a strikeout to leave the bases loaded.

At the start of the second, Brennan Johnson took over for Simmon, keeping the Golden Eagles scoreless. Fresno Pacific scored thanks to Aaron Martinez Jr.'s single to right field and Alex Lopez's single through the left side, bringing the score to 2-1.

In the third, Concordia's two-run homer extended their lead to 4-1, despite Darryl Dilworth Jr.'s insane leap to stop it from getting past. Eric Wilson was the Sunbirds' saving grace in the third, slamming a ball to right field to make it a two-point game. With bases loaded, the 'Birds poised a threat to the Golden Eagles with Tejean Smith's drive to left field and Lopez's hit, tying it up at 4. A wild pitch advanced Clement home, giving the Blue and Orange the 5-4 lead!

In the fourth, pitcher Andrew Stalnaker came in with bases loaded and protected the Sunbirds' lead with a crucial strikeout. He went on to collect two more strikeouts in the fifth inning, shutting down CUI's attempts to score. After a thrilling two-strike count, Dilworth walloped a ball to right field, hitting a 2RBI triple to extend the lead, 7-4. With the PacWest Player of the Week up to bat and bases loaded, Concordia took a timeout before making a pitching change as Wheelock's walk made it 8-4. Not done yet, Martinez singled to right center, bringing home Esquivel and Wilson, pushing ahead 10-4. A strange end to the inning came from a catcher to pitcher pick off at home, closing the inning 11-4.

FPU showed off its defensive prowess in the sixth! Smith came through with a jumping catch to first and pitcher Stalnaker chased a bunt down the first base line, then laid out for the underhand throw for the second out. In the end, Holden Hirschkorn's walk off three-run homer sealed the win for FPU! Handing Concordia a similar beat down to the first doubleheader of the weekend — a 10-run mercy rule in the eighth inning.
 
GAME 2 | FPU 7, CUI 0

Each team captured a single in the first inning, but the first run of the game came in the fourth. Incredible defensive plays kept Concordia at bay, including Hirschkorn's save at the right field wall. Second baseman Smith had an incredible outing, going 5-for-5 on the day despite a late injury in the fourth. In the fourth, Martinez drilled a ball through the left side to bring Henderson, pinch-running for Smith, right on home.

Wheelock was the next Sunbird to score, rounding the base off Clement's single. With bases loaded, Isaac Esquivel came through with the 2RBI single, hitting it just past CUI's shortstop to make it 4-0. Following Dilworth's single, Wilson took no time to wail on the ball right down the right field line, bringing in two more runs for FPU. The Blue and Orange secured another run in the fifth, charging ahead 7-0.

The Sunbirds continued their dominance by ending the sixth inning with a 463 ground out play. Concordia may have kept Fresno Pacific scoreless in the sixth, but the 'Birds shutout the Golden Eagles for the remainder of the game for the 7-0 triumph, splitting the home series with the No. 2 team in the PacWest!

Sunbird pitcher Dustin Tinsley collected his first complete game and shutout of the season with FPU's defense to back him up. This marks the second shutout of the season alongside Matthew Bettencourt's against Chaminade in Hawaii. 

Fresno Pacific is 27-23 overall and 22-16 in the PacWest conference. So far, Point Loma and Concordia have punched their tickets to the PacWest Championships. It's a scramble in the conference to see who will fill the remaining two slots. Fresno Pacific is currently ranked fourth, trailing behind Hawaii Pacific (25-19, 23-15).
 

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