RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Another strong start from Johnathan Davis and a standout performance from Zack Norris put California Baptist University in line to increase its winning streak to six games against Fresno Pacific.
 
The Sunbirds rallied in the eighth and ninth innings for a 7-5 comeback victory at James W. Totman Stadium Thursday night, however. CBU takes a 14-13, 6-3 in the PacWest, record into Friday's continuation of its four-game set with 19-8, 7-6 FPU at 6 p.m.
 
In his second start of the year, Davis threw six innings and allowed just one earned run, eight hits and no walks. He was backed by 13 hits from his offense, including a 4-for-5 showing from Norris, which included a run scored and batted in. Stephen Lohr (2-for-4), Antonio Chavarria (2-for-5) and Nathan Antoun (2-for-4) both had two hits for the Lancers. Lohr homered in the game, driving in two runs in all.
 
Coming into a tough matchup with Sunbirds ace Wilson Ashford, CBU took control immediately. Davis stranded runners at the corners in the top of the first and singles from Norris, Andy Crowley and Chavarria gave the Lancers a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the frame.
 
Davis continued to shut out the Sunbirds through four innings, while the offense increased the Lancers lead. Antoun led off the bottom of the fourth with a single. An error moved him up into scoring position, and a clutch two-out single from Norris scored him from second for a 2-0 lead.
 
After FPU managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the top of the fifth, a leadoff bomb from Lohr in the bottom half gave CBU another lead, 3-2.
 
Once Davis left the game, the Sunbirds managed to score five runs in the final two innings and take a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth.
 
In need of a big inning, the Lancers got off to a good start with a leadoff, pinch-hit single from A.J. David and Norris' fourth hit of the game. Lohr plated David with a one-out single up the middle. Chavarria brought the potential tying run to the plate when he loaded the bases with a single into center field. Antoun brought home a run when he was hit by a pitch, but the game came to an end on a grounder to first base.