LEWISTON, Idaho -- Fresno Pacific's baseball team knows what its like to battle back, having won their regional in Sioux City, Iowa last week by taking five straight elimination games.
The Sunbirds face the same situation in the NAIA World Series. After a 5-0 loss to host school Lewis-Clark State on Friday, they face Embry-Riddle in an elimination game at noon today at Harris Field.
Embry-Riddle, of Daytona Beach, Fla., lost 10-0 to Pt. Loma Nazarene on Friday.
In their opener Friday, the Sunbirds were stymied by Lewis-Clark pitcher Colby Hawk. Fresno Pacific had plenty of baserunners, but coudln't crack Hawk with men in scoring position, stranding eight runners on base.
Fresno Paciific starter
Kelyn Schellenberg pitched well, but was tagged for three runs in the second inning and a two-run homer in the eighth.
All the Sunbirds hits Friday were by
Anthony Lowell (4-for-4) and
Jared Coleman (3-for-3).
Fresno Pacific coach
Oscar Hirschkorn hoped for more timely hitting today.
"We need to bring our bats," he said. "All it takes is a another solid pitching performance and we're back in it. It just comes down to getting hits with runners in scoring position."