March 24, 2006

Box Score

San Diego, Calif. - Senior Luke Massetti (Modesto, Calif.) recorded a career-high 10 K's, while sophomore Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) and senior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.) each delivered a home run in the late innings, to lead the Pacific Tigers to a 7-2 win over San Diego State on Friday, Mar. 24.

With the win, the Tigers moved to 14-7 on the season, while San Diego State fell to 6-21 overall.

Tied 2-2 in the top of the eighth inning, Baum and Berezay took advantage of the San Diego State decision to lift starter Justin Masterson. Baum led off with a single into center field off San Diego State reliever Mike Koons. Berezay followed with a two-run home run over the left-center field wall to give the Tigers a 4-2 lead.

The score remained that way until the ninth, when the Tigers added three runs on two hits. Freshman Alex Zanini (Stockton, Calif.) led off the ninth with a single to left. One out later, sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to put runners at first and third. The Aztecs went to the bullpen a second time, bringing in Jared Suwyn to face Baum. On the second pitch of the at-bat, Pacific third baseman crushed a fastball over the right-center field wall, extending the Tigers lead to 7-2.

Pacific senior Steve Spurgeon (Stockton, Calif.) nailed down the ninth inning as the Tigers extended the Aztecs program-record losing streak to 11 games.

Massetti (3-2) picked up his third win of the season, allowing two runs on five hits and one walk in eight innings of work.

Koons (2-4) suffered the loss as he allowed four runs on three hits in 1.1 innings of relief. Masterson, meanwhile, allowed two runs on four hits in seven innings.

Baum, Berezay and sophomore Brett Manning (Boulder, Colo.) each finished with two hits to lead the Tigers' offensive attack.

The Tigers and Aztecs will continue their three-game series on Saturday, Mar. 25 at 1 p.m.