Baseball

Wednesday, February 20, 2008 - FPU Field
Sunbirds 1 British Columbia 0- Final

Game 2

Box score

Fresno- In a pitching dual from beginning to end, Antone Ontiveros was able to hinder the bats of the the visiting Thunderbirds by posting a goose egg in the runs column. Ontiveros kept British Columbia off balance and allowed only five hits in 7 1/3 innings of work.

Catcher Josh Jackson continued to stroke the ball with a 3 for 4 night at the dish.

The first five innings went scoreless as the Sunbirds struggled to get runners in from scoring position. Within those five frames they left seven runners on base, but the solid play on the defensive end allowed the Sunbirds to keep the game favorable for a win.

In the sixth inning, the Sunbirds were able to manufacture a run and played a little small ball to do so. With one out and no one on, the hot hitting Jackson started things off with a double. Head coach Oscar Hirschkorn then went to the bench to bring in Andrew Douglas to pinch run.

Still using the bench for some production, coach Hirschkorn subbed in Roger Schroder to pinch hit. Schroder was able to put the ball in play and move Douglas 90 feet closer to home plate.

Once again coach Hirschkorn made a move to the bench and used Jeff Taylor to pinch hit. Taylor, who stepped to the plate with two outs, was able to deliver a double down the third base line to bring home Douglas and what would be the game winning run.

David Zizzo then came into the game after Ontirveros recorded one out in the top of the eighth. He was able to silent the bats for no hits and record the multi inning save.

With the win the Sunbirds now stand at 8-3 overall. They will be back in action as they travel to Westmont College to take on the warriors. Due to threatening weather the game has been moved to Santa Barbara, California. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.

For more information on Thunderbirds baseball click here

Records:
Thunderbirds: 3-3
Sunbirds: 8-3

Thursday, February 14, 2008 - FPU Field
Sunbirds 9 British Columbia 1- Final

Game 1

Box score

Fresno- British Columbia jumped on the board first, but the Sunbirds answered back and continued to build on their lead throughout the game. Jordan Keener and staff pitched the Sunbirds to their sixth straight win as they beat the Thunderbirds 9-1.

The early first inning run by the Thunderbirds was enough to get the Sunbirds fired up and focused to record another win.

Jared Coleman led off the home half inning one with a single and later advanced to second after a walk drawn by first baseman Jacob Burns. Thomas Raymundo then singled in Coleman to tie the game at one.

The second run would come when Raymundo stole second and forced a bad through by the British Columbia catcher. Burns took full advantage and scored on the throwing error.

British Columbia continued to struggle against the arm of Keener, but in the mean time, the Sunbirds kept tacking onto their lead one run at a time. They would score in both the third and fourth innings.

In the Sunbirds' final two innings they put up five runs to more than seal the deal for their sixth victory in a row.

Tyler Wookey, Kelyn Nunes, Aaron Lynn and Joey Norwood each pitched a scoreless frame down the stretch to keep the Thunderbird bats silent.

Raymundo led the Sunbirds at the plate with a 3 for 5 evening. Justin Keeney and Norwood would also record a multi hit game by going 2 for 4 at the dish.

Keener was awarded his second win in as many tries and tallied eight strikeouts while only allowing one run.

The win improves the Sunbirds record to 6-2. They will be back in action on Saturday, February 16th, when they travel to Vanguard for a doubleheader. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

For more information on Thunderbirds baseball click here

Records:
Thunderbirds: 0-1
Sunbirds: 6-2

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