May 28, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Three seniors cemented their legacy at Pacific as Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.), Will Brindza (Sherwood, Ore.) and Steve Spurgeon (Stockton, Calif.) helped lift the Pacific Baseball team to a 4-2 win over Cal State Northridge, on May 28. The win clinched the Tigers' first back-to-back 30-win seasons in school history.
The win gave Pacific a 30-25 final overall record, while the Tigers finsihed the Big West Conference season at 9-12. Cal State Northridge closed the 2006 season with a 26-30 mark and a 6-15 record in Big West Conference play.
The Tigers 30-25 final record marked the first time in school history, that Pacific has posted back-to-back 30-win seasons as the Tigers finished the 2005 regular season with a 30-28 mark.
The Pacific offense got going in the bottom of the third inning as Brinza led off with a single through the left side. Sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) reached on an infield single to put runners at first and second. Senior Bob Saunders (Oakland, Calif.) attempted to move the runners over with a sacrifice bunt, but Brindza was cut down at third. With Berezay coming to the plate, Cal State Northridge called to the bullpen for closer Joe Rocchio.
Rocchio unleashed a wild pitch with his first offering to Berezay, moving Ching to third and Saunders to second. With the count full, Berezay smacked a single up the middle to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.
Pacific added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth in a very similar fashion. Once again Brindza started the inning with a single, this time to right-center. Ching bounced into a fielder's choice, retiring Brindza at second base. Saunders followed with a single through the left side, sending Ching to second. This time hitting from the right side of the plate against left-hander Jimmy Brettl, the switch-hitting Berezay ripped a two-run double into right-center field, plating Ching and Saunders for the second time in the game.
That was more than enough offense for Spurgeon and the Pacific bullpen. Spurgeon (4-1) allowed just one unearned run in seven innings, giving up six hits and one walk. Juniors Curtis Pasma (Madera, Calif.) and Jake Wild (Kingsburg, Calif.) closed the door in the final two innings for the Tigers, allowing a second unearned run to the Matadors. Wild collected his first save of the season, tossing a scoreless ninth inning.
Cal State Northridge starter Kyle Jean (0-1) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk in 2.1 innings.
Spurgeon's final outing won him the team ERA title as he finished with a 2.76 ERA on the season.
Berezay finished his final game as a Tiger, 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Brindza was 2-for-3 on the day.
