Thursday, March 6, 2008 - FPU Field
#23 Sunbirds pay back #2 Cougars with an 8-2 smackin

Box score

Fresno- Antone Ontiveros was too mysterious for the Cougars to figure out while he kept them off balance for a complete game showcase. The crafty left-hander only allowed one earned run and scatted nine hits in his nine frames of work.

Last week's meeting between these two teams went in the favor of the Cougars as they put together a seven run inning in the top half of the sixth, but this time around it would be the Sunbirds lighting up the scoreboard.

After Azusa picked up one run in the second inning, the Sunbirds rallied back with in the home half with four runs.

Justin Keeney jump started the offense with a frozen rope double to the fence in right center and scored off Case Rigby's single. Roger Schroeder used patience at the plate to draw a walk that put two men on with no outs. Third baseman Joey Norwood then beat out a successful bunt down the third baseline to load the bases. Next up was Jared Coleman and his ground ball to the short stop platted Rigby from third for the second run.

The final two runs came off the bat of Anthony Lowell. Lowell scorched a ball down the third baseline that ricocheted off the bag and landed into left field. Norwood and Schroeder then hustled home to score runs three and four.

Ontiveros continued to be masterful on the hill and went on to toss six scoreless innings down the stretch.

Offensively the Sunbirds weren't close to done. They would score two runs in both the fourth and seventh innings. Keeney dialed in and drove a two run home run over the left center fence in the seventh inning for his first of the year. He led the Sunbirds with two RBI's, two runs scored while going 2-4 at the plate. Norwood also had a multiple hit night as he went 2 for 3.

With the win the Sunbirds improve to 11-4 overall and 7-2 in the GSAC. They will be back in action this Saturday, March 8th, as they play host to Biola University. First pitch of the doubleheader is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

Records:
#2 Azusa: 17-2, 9-2 GSAC
#23 Sunbirds: 11-4, 7-2 GSAC