FRESNO—Host Fresno Pacific needed just six timely hits and lights out relief work from Gino Helmuth to keep their season alive with a 7-6 win over Holy Names in an elimination game on Thursday morning at the Pacific West Conference Baseball Championships.

The Hawks’ season ends at 26-25, and very unfortunately so does their baseball history. With the university closing its doors next month, Holy Names played their final contest today but gave a very game effort while doing so.

Meanwhile the Sunbirds stay alive and will play tonight at 7 pm. The will face the loser of the 3 pm game between Azusa Pacific and Point Loma, in yet another elimination game. FPU will take a 24-22 mark into the game on their own FPU Diamond.

Playing as the home team (coin flip), Holy Names got on the board in the bottom of the first on a RBI-single by Falcon Magana. FPU answered in the top of the second on Donte Valdez’s two-run ground rule double and used one other unearned run to take a 3-1 lead. They would never trail again, although the Hawks continually stayed within a run or two at most.

Domenik Cervantes made it a one-run game in the fourth with a two-run double. But in the seventh, Koutarou Matsumara doubled home two runs. Holy Names climbed back again on Esai Santos line drive home run over the right field fence, once again climbing back into contention at 7-6.

Enter FPU closer Helmuth. He pitched 2.1 innings and allowed just one hit, a lead-off single to Jesus Hernandez in the ninth. But he then induced a ground followed by a game-ending double play to end HNU’s season and keep FPU’s alive.

Helmuth picked up his third save of the season. Matsumaru had a double and a home run in the contest for the Sunbirds. Shane Pursell also had a pair of hits for the home team.

Hernandez was 3-for-4 for Holy Names, while Cervantes and Dylan Leek also had two hits apiece.

To watch the postgame interviews with the Hawks and Sunbirds, click here.