FRESNO, Calif. – In the final series of the regular season, Vanguard may have jumped ahead with a 11-6 lead, but the Sunbirds rallied in the eighth with six hits and seven runs to take the first game 13-11. Game two was the perfect conclusion to the senior day celebration as the 'Birds clinched their spot in the PacWest Championships.
GAME 1 | FPU 13, VU 11
Although the 'Birds scored their first run off a bases loaded walk, Vanguard rallied with back-to-back home runs in the second inning, 2-1. The Lions scored two more off a well-driven single up the middle to take the 5-1 lead.
Andrew Stalnaker came in as relief for
Matt Bettencourt, cutting off Vanguard's early surge in the second. Trouble was on the horizon in the third, but
Dylan Senneway, relieving Stalnaker on the mound, took care of business before the Lions could escape with more runs. Vanguard captured another in the fourth, but
Darryl Dilworth Jr.'s 100 mph hit to left field put the Sunbirds in scoring position at the bottom of the inning.
Gabe Henderson drilled a ball down the middle for the 2 RBI single, cutting Vanguard's lead to 6-3. After intentionally walking
Titus Wheelock,
Aaron Martinez Jr. and
Chris Clement's sacrifice flys scored the next two runs for FPU, 6-5.
In the fifth, another Lion runner made it home, but a rare double play occurred for the 'Birds. The ball ricocheted off the batter's bat on a check swing, dribbling down the first base line to Wheelock who sent it to Clement and back for the unpredictable 3-4-3 play.
As the game progressed, the Lions continued to charge ahead. In the sixth, Clement got his second sacrifice fly of the game to make it 9-6. A late Vanguard home run in the eighth, their third of the day, forced the Sunbirds to make a pitching change, sending in
Tyler Gonzales for Senneway. Fresno Pacific lost their momentum as the inning continued, dropping behind 11-6.
The excitement returned at the bottom of the eighth. With bases loaded,
Vincent Robinson knocked the ball to left field to send Wheelock home, then an RBI for
Brennan Johnson with the walk made is 11-8. An astounding line drive to left field by Dilworth (2RBI double) made it a one-run game, which
Eric Wilson followed up with a hit down the middle to tie it up at 11. The Sunbirds stole the lead back off a Lion error and never looked back, jumping ahead 13-11. Seven runs and six hits were all the 'Birds needed in the eighth to take back the win.
GAME 2 | FPU 13, VU 2
The Blue and Orange kicked things off with a 5-3 double play in the first and kept that good energy going for the remainder of senior day. The Sunbirds increased their lead with a walk, a single by Clement, and an astounding triple by catcher
Alex Lopez for the 2-0 lead.
Brennan Johnson followed it up with his third homer of the year, depositing it deep into the tennis courts, 4-0. Strong performances from Dilworth, Henderson, and Wheelock secured the 8-0 lead.
The 'Birds scored four more runs in the third, taking the 12-0 lead. Senior
Tejean Smith returned to FPU's batting lineup, despite his late injury, and wailed a solo homer into left field to and one more final run to the Sunbirds' tally.
Vanguard finally broke the goose egg in the fifth with a solo home run, 13-1.
Dalton Alford came in as relief for
Cruz Cabral. Vanguard managed to escape with a final run in the sixth, but senior pitcher
Harry Tooze closed out the 13-2 game. The pair of Sunbird senior pitchers would play in their final home games donning the Blue and Orange.
Fresno Pacific finished the regular season 32-24 overall and 27-17 in PacWest play. The Sunbirds clinched the final slot in the PacWest Championships with their series win over Vanguard. The tournament seeds are as follows: Point Loma (No. 1), Concordia (No. 2), Fresno Pacific (No. 3) and Westmont (No. 4). The Birds ended the 2026 regular season winning seven of their final eight games, to sit tied with CUI for second place in the final standings - their best-ever finish in the conference standings as members of the PacWest. As the Sunbirds prepare to transition from PacWest membership to the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) this summer, Coach
Oscar Hirschkorn's squad will look to add to their best-ever regular season in NCAA competition with a run at the PacWest Championship and berth into the NCAA West Regional.
UP NEXT
Heading to Santa Barbara, the #3 'Birds will take on #2 Concordia on Wednesday, May 6 at 2:30 pm. For more information, including ticket and livestream info, visit the
PacWest Tournament Central page.
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