CCI, Azusa Pacific Actually Play, Split

Christ College Irvine and Azusa Pacific finally played their disputed doubleheader Friday, but after the teams’ split two Golden State Athletic Conference games, nothing was settled.

Azusa Pacific (27-11, 12-4 in the GSAC) remains in first place, a game ahead of the Eagles (26-10, 11-5). The teams play another doubleheader at noon today at Christ College.

Friday’s games were originally scheduled for March 21 but were rained out that day and postponed another time because of wet grounds. The conference baseball commissioner set April 3 as the makeup date, but Azusa Pacific failed to send a team. The conference settled the dispute by scheduling the back-to-back doubleheaders.

Friday, after losing the first game, 8-4, to drop into a tie for first place, Azusa Pacific won the second, 5-3. CCI had taken a 2-0 lead into the third inning before Azusa’s Pat Fairly, the son of former major leaguer Ron Fairly, hit a three-run home run.

Trailing, 5-2, CCI loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and final inning, but the Eagles could only score one run as Mike Adams and Lonnie Zimmerman each grounded into a fielder’s choice.

In the first game, Adams (9-3) allowed four runs and eight hits in seven innings but induced double plays to get out of trouble in his final three innings.