May 7, 2006
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth, the Pacific baseball squad rallied for two runs to defeat UC Riverside, 5-4, on Sunday, May 7.
The win gave the Tigers the season series against the Highlanders as Pacific defeated UC Riverside in each of the last two contests by identical scores or 5-4.
The Tigers moved to 24-20 on the season with the victory and 5-10 in the Big West Conference, while UC Riverside dropped to 23-20 overall and 5-7 in conference play.
Down a run in the final frame, Pacific got a leadoff double into right field from senior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.). Senior Anthony Jackson (Modesto, Calif.) moved Berezay to third with a sacrifice bunt along the first base line. Senior Jake Ross (Friday Harbor, Wash.) followed with a high hoping double down the left field line to plate Berezay and tie the game at 4-4. Sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) sent Ross to third on a single into short left field. One out later, senior Bob Saunders (Oakland, Calif.) lined a 2-1 pitch into left field to drive home Ross as the game-winning run.
The Tigers two-run rally, thwarted UC Riverside's attempt to win the contest as the Highlanders took the lead in the top of the ninth inning on a solo home run off the bat of second baseman Drew Garcia.
A nip and tuck game got started in the top of the first inning as the Highlanders used three one-out singles to take a 1-0. The Tigers escaped further damage in the inning as Pacific turned a inning-ending double play.
Pacific struck back in the bottom of the third inning with two runs on three hits. Sophomore John Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) started the inning with a single up the middle. Joines went to second on a sacrifice bunt from senior John Devany (Danville, Calif.). With two outs in the inning, Jackson dumped a double into right field, scoring Joines. The next Pacific batter, sophomore Jason Haar (San Diego, Calif.) singled through the right side to drive in Jackson and give the Tigers a 2-1 lead.
UC Riverside tied the game on a solo home run by D.J. Hollingsworth in the sixth, then took the lead with a single run in the seventh.
The Tigers tied the score at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on a leadoff double from Devany, a walk to Berezay, then back-to-back hit batters as Jackson and Ross were hit by UC Riverside pitcher Dan Runzler.
Junior Curtis Pasma (Madera, Calif.) picked up the win (3-2) for the Tigers as he retired the only two batters he faced in the ninth inning.
UC Riverside closer Daniel Stange (1-2) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits in two-thirds of an inning.
Pacific will be back in action on Tuesday, May 9 as the Tigers host Sacramento State at 2 p.m. at Klein Family Field.
