FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno Pacific baseball put on a brilliant show on Friday afternoon, defeating Vanguard thanks to first baseman
Titus Wheelock's record-breaking performance! The Sunbirds soared far ahead in both games, securing 9-2 and 9-3 victories to close day one.
GAME 1 | FPU 9, VU 2
The 'Birds wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning.
Darryl Dilworth Jr. started it off with a single to right field,
Eric Wilson advanced on a hit by pitch, and
Gabe Henderson brought Dilworth home with a beautiful drive down the middle. A failed Lions pickoff situation ended in Wilson making it home on an error, capturing the 2-0 lead with no outs. In the second inning, Dilworth doubled and Wilson ripped a ball to the right field fence, bringing it to a 3-0 advantage.
Despite a lead-off walk, a double down the left line, and a fielder's choice, Fresno Pacific's
Drew Petty came in as relief for
Zach Simmon, hoping to stop a bases loaded situation. Vanguard managed to score a single run on a hit by pitch before the 'Birds put a stop to the fourth inning threat, 3-1. Taking advantage of a pitching change,
Titus Wheelock did some damage in the bottom of the fourth with a 2RBI single through the right side, scoring Henderson and Wilson for the 5-1 lead.
With no outs in the bottom of the sixth, Wheelock added another three-run homer to his resume, bringing the score to 8-1. Vanguard's deep hit that bounced over the centerfield fence brought in their second run, 8-2. But it was short lived as an unforgettable line out catch by
Chris Clement, filling in for second baseman
Tejean Smith, left two runners on base to end the inning. Soon enough, another Sunbird run scored in the seventh inning, closing the game FPU 9 – VU 2.
GAME 2 | FPU 9, VU 3
No better way to start a game than with a
Titus Wheelock grand slam! After shutting out the Lions at the top of the first, Dilworth doubled to left field and the Sunbird duo of Wilson and Henderson walked to first, setting up Wheelock for yet another grand slam this season. The first baseman battled at the plate before sending his second homer of the day past the right field fence, pushing the 'Birds ahead 4-0.
Vanguard got on the board in the third thanks to an RBI triple that ricocheted off the back wall, 4-1. The Sunbirds responded in the fourth with Henderson's hit down the left side and yet another Wheelock three-run homer to make it 8-1 (his fourteenth of the season, tying the school record)!
FPU pitcher
Dustin Tinsley did a great job attacking the inside corners, collecting several strikeouts to shut down the Lions' advances. Although Vanguard scored their second run off a single in the sixth, Wheelock shattered the single-season home run record (15) to silence the Lions late uproar, sealing the 9-3 victory. Combining stats from both games, the first baseman went 7-for-8, with four homeruns, 13 RBI, and four runs scored!
Fresno Pacific is 30-24 overall and 25-17 in the PacWest. The Sunbirds are ranked third in conference, surpassing Hawaii Pacific with Westmont hot on their trail in fourth. Saturday's final results will determine whether Fresno Pacific clinches a spot in the PacWest Championships.
To view the PacWest Baseball Standings, CLICK HERE.
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