FPU celebrates a run scored during a 3-0 win over Concordia (photo by Grace Echelbarger).
FPU celebrates a run scored during a 3-0 win over Concordia (photo by Grace Echelbarger).

Baseball

Cruz Cabral's arm, Daryl Dilworth's Bat Lead Sunbirds to Win

Cabral shuts down Concordia during 3-0 victory to push Fresno Pacific into Thursday's winner's round game against Point Loma.

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.--Fresno Pacific's Cabral Cruz allowed just one hit through seven innings and Daryl Dilworth drove in runs with a single and home run to lead the Sunbirds to a 3-0 win over Concordia on Wednesday afternoon at Russ Carr Field. 

The No. 3 seeded Sunbirds will play No. 1 seed Point Loma tomorrow (Thursday) at 12:30 pm. PLNU defeated host Westmont earlier today (9-2). Concordia (#2 seed) will play the Warriors on Thursday at 9 am in a elimination game. 

Cabral was light's out from the first pitch. He did not allow a hit until the sixth inning, and when the Golden Eagles did finally land in the hit column it was via a bunt single by Sawyer Voortman. The Golden Eagles had begun the inning with a walk, followed by Voortman's hit to mount a rally. But after a sacrifice bunt moved the runners to second and third, an uncovential double play ended the inning. A fly ball out to left field was one out and Sunbird Vincent Robinson then threw out Voortman at home trying to advance for the third out.

Earlier, CUI's Matthew Kaiser hadn't given up a hit through the first three innings. But Dilworth broke that thread in the fourth with a single. He then stole second base and came home on Gabe Henderson's single. 

Dilworth hit a solo home run to lead off the sixth to give FPU a 2-0 lead. In the seventh, Cabral gave up a walk and hit a batter, but still didn't allow a run. He left after 96 pitches, allowing just the one bunt single, two walks and he struck out four. Drew Petty came on in relief for the final two innings, scattering three hits and striking out three, including the final batter of the game. 

A 6-foot-6 junior, Cabral had his longest and most successful outing of the season to improve to 8-2 on the year.

The Sunbirds are now 33-24 on the season and have won six in a row. Concordia (29-24) will face Westmont in a loser's out game at 9 am tomorrow.