May 20, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind seven strong innings from freshman Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) and four RBI by sophomore Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) the Pacific Tigers defeated Washington, 7-2, on Saturday, May 20.
The win moved the Tigers to 27-23 on the season, while Washington dropped to 34-24 overall.
Pacific broke out on top in the bottom of the first inning as Baum hit his team leading 11th home run of the season over the left field wall. Baum's blast was a two-run shot as sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) led off the game with a single to left field.
Baum's home run was his 28th long ball in his first two seasons, tying him for the Pacific career record of 28 home runs with Walt Poole (1977-80). Baum set Pacific's single season record for home runs with 17 during his freshman campaign.
The Tigers added single runs in the third and the fourth innings on sacrifice flys. In the third, Ching scorched a double down the left field line to lead off the inning. He moved to third on a groundout by senior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.), then came home on a deep fly ball into left field from Baum. Senior John Devany (Danville, Calif.) scored in the fourth for Pacific as he led off the inning with a walk, moved to third as senior Bob Saunders (Oakland, Calif.) reached on an error, then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of senior Ramon Glasgow (Stockton, Calif.).
Leading 4-0 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Pacific continued to add to the lead with two runs on two hits, a walk and a hit batter. For the third time in the game, Ching kick started a Tiger rally. With one out in the inning, Ching was hit by a pitch. Berezay followed with a single to left field, sending Ching to third. Baum brought in Ching with his second sacrifice fly of the game to make it 5-0. A walk by senior Anthony Jackson (Modesto, Calif.) moved Berezay into scoring position. Devany drove Berezay home on a bouncer up the middle, giving Pacific a 6-0 lead.
Pacific's final run came in the bottom of the sixth as Glasgow reached on an infield singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by freshman Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.).
That was more than Tiger starter, freshman Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) would need as he held the Huskies to an unearned run on three hits and three walks in seven innings. Centanni moved to 5-4 on the season with the win.
Washington starter, Tyler Cheney (1-6) suffered the loss as he allowed six runs (five earned) on five hits in 4.1 innings.
Baum and Ching led the Tigers at the plate as the duo were a combined 3-for-5 with four runs scored and four RBI.
Pacific and Washington will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, May 21 at 12 p.m. The game was originally scheduled for 1 p.m., but was moved up to accommodate Washington's flight times.
