April 30, 2006

Box Score

Long Beach, Calif. The Pacific baseball team fell, 9-3, to Long Beach State on Sunday, Apr. 30 as the 49ers completed a three-game sweep of Pacific.

The loss dropped Pacific to 22-19 on the season and 3-9 in Big West Conference play, while Long Beach State moved to 23-18 overall and 7-1 in conference. The loss is the sixth consecutive for Pacific, while Long Beach State is riding a seven game winning streak.

The Tigers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Pacific scored two runs with two outs. After the first two Pacific batters were retired, senior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.) singled up the middle. Sophomore Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) followed with a long home run over the left-center field wall. It was Baum's eighth home run of the season, tying him with Berezay for the team lead.

Long Beach State responded in the bottom of the first inning as the 49ers scored three runs on three hits and three Pacific errors. The first two 49ers reached on singles, then Evan Longoria tied the game with a two-run double. One out later, Jose Hernandez bought home Longoria with a single to right field.

Pacific struck right back in the top of the second as the Tigers tied the game with a run on three singles. Senior Ramon Glasgow (Stockton, Calif.) led off the inning with a single to center. Senior Bob Saunders (Oakland, Calif.) followed with a beautiful bunt single down the third baseline. Two outs later the Pacific runners remained at first and second for sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.). Ching laced the first pitch of his at-bat into center field, scoring Glasgow from second.

Tied at 3-3, Long Beach State reclaimed the lead in the bottom of the third inning, when Long Beach State's Danny Espinosa doubled down the left field line to plate Jose Hernandez, who had walked, giving Long Beach State a 4-3 edge.

Long Beach State added an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI double off the bat of Shane Petereson and four more in the eighth for the 9-3 win.

Pacific freshman Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) suffered the loss as he allowed four runs on seven hits in 6.1 innings. The loss dropped Centanni to 3-3 on the season.

Long Beach State's Donnie Hume (2-3) picked up the win as he surrendered three runs on six hits in 5.2 innings. 49er freshman Brian Shaw picked up his fourth save of the season and second in the series as he recorded the final four outs for Long Beach State.

Baum led the Pacific offense with two hits as he finished the day with a home run and a double.

Pacific will return to the diamond on Friday, May 5 as the Tigers host UC Riverside for the three-game Big West Conference series at Klein Family Field. The first game of the series on Friday will begin at 2 p.m.