May 27, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind a complete-game victory from freshman Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) and a two-run bomb from senior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.) the Pacific Tigers baseball team defeated Cal State Northridge, 4-1, on Saturday, May 27.
With the win the Tigers moved to 29-25 on the season and 8-12 in the Big West Conference. Cal State Northridge, meanwhile, dropped to 26-29 overall and 6-14 in conference play.
Centanni and Matador starter Edwin Quirarte battled each other step for step through the first five innings of a scoreless contest.
The Tigers broke through in the bottom of the sixth as sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) led off the inning with a single through the left side. Senior Bob Saunder (Oakland, Calif.) sacrificed Ching over to second with a bunt down the first base line. With two outs in the inning, sophomore Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) stung a double into the left field corner, driving in Ching and giving Pacific a 1-0 lead.
The single run appeared to be all Centanni might need as he retired the Matadors in order during the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
Pacific added some insurance in the eighth innings as freshman Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) singled into left, then moved to second on an error. Ching moved Oliveira to third with a sacrifice, then Saunders bounced a single into left field to plate Oliveira with Pacific's second run of the game. The next Tiger batter, Berezay, launched the first pitch of his at-bat against Quirarte over the right field wall for his 11th home run of the season, extending Pacific's lead to 4-0.
With a four-run cushion, Centanni finished off the Matadors in the ninth for his third complete game of the season. Centanni (6-4) allowed one run on five hits and two walks in nine innings for his team leading sixth win of the season.
Quirarte (4-7) suffered the loss, allowing four runs on seven hits and one walk in 7.1 innings.
Baum led the Tigers offensively, finishing the day 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Pacific and Cal State Northridge will conclude the regular season on Sunday, May 28 at 1 p.m.
