Box score 

Chico- The weather wasn't pretty and the field conditions not favorable, but the Sunbirds and Wildcats still played game two of the series as scheduled. Due to the pouring down rain the game was called in the sixth inning, but enough innings had be record in the book, which had the Wildcats up 4-7 for the win.

A two hit first inning didn't see any rewards as the Sunbirds weren't able to get on the board. The Wildcats had a different fortune, which allowed them to record three runs in the bottom half.

When the third inning came around things would shift the Sunbirds way. Both Anthony Lowell and Joe Halderman got aboard due to a throwing error by the third baseman. Lowell would reach first and score on the throwing error that allowed Halderman to advance to second base. Justin Keeney came up to the dish with a chance to cash in another run and did so with a frozen rope double to right field. The clutch hit brought the Sunbirds within one run of the Wildcats.

Things kept rolling on for the Sunbirds as they would score a run in each of the next two innings. Mitch Mulligan would reach base on a single and later come across the plate thanks to a triple hit by Lowell.

In the fifth inning Thomas Raymundo singled to start things off. Head coach Oscar Hirschkorn would then play some small ball and bunt Kenney to get Raymundo over to second base and in scoring position. With two outs and a man on, designated hitter Case Rigby drove a single to the outfield to bring Raymundo across the plate and put the Sunbirds up 4-3.

Chico State would answer back with a run in the bottom half of the fifth inning and then put together another three run inning in the sixth to go up 4-7. The score would stand due to the weather conditions, which caused the game to be called.

Left fielder Keneey went 2-2 at the plate with one RBI to lead the Sunbirds. Raymundo also had a good day as he went 2-3 at the dish. The third and final game of the series was never played because of the field conditions.

The loss makes the Sunbirds record 0-2 on the season. They will be back in action next Saturday (February 9th) when they play the first ever baseball game at FPU Field. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

Friday, February 1, 2008 - Oakland, California
Sunbirds 0 Chico State 5 Game 1

Box score

Chico- After being canceled earlier this week the Sunbirds went up north to take on the Chico State Wildcats for their first game of the 2008 season. The #24 ranked Wildcats, who are affiliated with NCAA Division II, blanked the Sunbirds by a score of 5-0 to hand the Sunbirds their first lost on the young season.

Both teams came out swinging the bats, but the Wildcats would jump on the board early in the game during the first inning. With one out and no one on, Travis DeCoito would draw a walk and later advance to second when Jimmy Dodds reached base after being hit by a pitch. Matt Bitker would later single to bring DeCoito home for the first run of the game. Bret Ringer, who went 3-4 on the day, singled in another run to go up 0-2.

In the top half of the second the Sunbirds would try to rally with two outs. Second baseman Casey Padgett would single to get on base and would later advance to third off a hard hit double by short stop Mitch Mulligan. Unfortunately both runners would be stranded, which kept the score at 0-2 in favor of the home team.

Back to back singles in the second inning would put Wildcat base runner, Eveland, in scoring position, which allowed him to cross the plate on a soft ground out to the right side. They would also score in the next inning to go up 0-4.

Even though the score favored the Wildcats, the Sunbirds were far from being shook up and put the ball in play multiple times but struggled to get runners across the plate. The Sunbirds would put four runners in scoring position and would hit the ball on a line, but couldn't catch a break as the ball went straight to the Wildcat defenders.

"It might not show in the box score but we hit the ball well today," said head coach Oscar Hirschkorn. "We hit the ball hard but just right at the defenders."

For the next three innings neither team would generate enough to get runs across the plate, but when the seventh inning came around Wildcat catcher Cody Dee would start the bottom half off with a double. Shane Farmer backed up Dee's double with a single to put runners on the corners. Sunbirds catcher Josh Jackson caught Dee sleeping on the base path and would throw a laser down the line to pick him off at third. While Dee was in the run down, Farmer would take advantage and advance to third base to keep a runner in scoring position for the Wildcats. Farmer would then score on a sacrifice fly to score the final run of the game.

For those who were not able to be at the game a 0-5 lost may look like a stomping, but coach Hirschkorn felt it was a well played game. "It was a good game even though the score was 5-0. They have a very good pitching staff, but at the same time we took some good hacks. We will win a lot of games if we continue down this path."

Both Anthony Lowell and Mulligan went 2-4 at the dish to lead the Sunbirds. Ringer would go 3-4 on the day to lead the Wildcats.

The lost drops the Sunbirds to 0-1 on the early season. They will be back in action tomorrow afternoon when they play a double-header against the Wildcats to end the series. First pitch is scheduled for 11:00 a.m.

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 Updated Records
#24 Wildcats 2-0
Sunbirds 0-2