College baseball: Late slide aids Sunbirds in 3-0 start

The Fresno Pacific baseball team is off to a 3-0 start in its first year of NCAA Division II play.

The Sunbirds picked up a doubleheader sweep against San Francisco State on Saturday to seize their first series victory of the season.

Catcher Brett Bishop hit Fresno Pacific’s first home run of the season during a 5-2 victory in the early game. Cleanup hitter Kaohu Gaspar, formerly of Fresno State, went 2 for 4 with two doubles.

In the second game, Ryan Castadio allowed one run in 51/3 innings and Chris De La Torre got out of a late jam as the Sunbirds won 3-2. Robert Chambas went 2 for 3, delivering what turned out to be the winning hit with a single to right in the top of the seventh. The throw beat Kyle Coppom, but he jarred the ball loose from the catcher.

“Great way to start the season,” Sunbirds coach Oscar Hirschkorn said. “San Francisco State is a tough team and every game was a dogfight. I was pleased with our toughness, especially with the new guys we have. We have a lot of work to do.”

FCC baseball hits snag early

Fresno City fell behind 5-0 and couldn’t make up the deficit in a 6-4 loss to host Sacramento City.

Ryan Wells had a pinch-hit two-run double for the Northern California third-ranked Rams (1-1) that trimmed the deficit to 5-4.

Justin Flores had two hits, including a double. Sac City, also 1-1 after the season-opening series, is ranked 11th in the nation.

Fresno City hosts Ohlone at 6 p.m. Tuesday in its home opener before welcoming Riverside for a three-game series beginning Thursday.

– The No. 13 Sequoias trailed by eight runs through three innings and never put up much of a fight during a 9-2 loss to Los Angeles Pierce as part of the Bakersfield Tournament. Dylan Lee took the loss, allowing eight runs (five unearned) on three hits and four walks in 22/3 innings. Giants second baseman Ross Feeley went 2 for 4.

– Porterville’s James Bingaman drove in two runs and Tyler Czech pitched five shutout innings in relief to beat Pierce 5-3.

Fresno State alumni game set

Fresno State will host its annual alumni game — featuring past Bulldogs players against the current team — next Saturday as part of a weekend of events to launch the new season.

This year marks the five-year anniversary since Fresno State made its run all the way to Omaha, Neb., and captured the 2008 College World Series championship.

The alumni game is 2:05 p.m. at Beiden Field.

Ex-Bulldogs and current Detroit Tigers pitcher Doug Fister will be inducted into the Fresno State Wall of Fame during the Dugout Club’s Double Play Dinner on Friday at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Hall. There is a golf tournament earlier in the day. The opener is Feb. 15 at home against UC Santa Barbara.