May 9, 2006

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Another late rally lifted the Tigers to a 8-7 win over Sacramento State on Tuesday, May 9, as Pacific scored four runs in the final three innings to claim the victory.

The win lifted the Tigers' overall record to 25-20 on the season, while Sacramento State dropped to 20-28. It was the Tigers' third straight win, while Sacramento State dropped its fourth straight.

Entering the bottom of the sixth inning down 7-4, the Tigers scratched across a single run in the sixth, two in the seventh to tie the game, then scored the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning to cap the late rally.

The Tigers' comeback got started in the sixth with two outs and senior Jake Ross (Friday Harbor, Wash.) at first. Ross had reached on a fielder's choice. A pass ball allowed Ross to move to second, then senior Will Brindza singled just over Hornet second baseman Gary Johnson's glove. Ross stopped at third on the play, but the throw from left field got away from Sacramento State catcher Buddy Morales, allowing Ross to score, cutting the Hornet lead to 7-5.

In the Tigers' next at-bat, sophomore Brett Manning (Boulder, Colo.) led off the inning with a walk. After moving to second on a sacrifice, then taking third on a ground ball, Manning was at third with two outs as senior Anthony Jackson (Modesto, Calif.) strode to the plate. Jackson pulled a triple down the right field line, bringing in Manning. Senior John Devany (Danville, Calif.) followed with a double into left field to tie the game at 7-7.

The Pacific offense continued perform in the bottom of the eighth inning. With two outs in the inning, sophomore John Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) singled to left field. Manning followed with a single up the middle, sending Joines to third. That brought up senior Bob Saunders (Oakland, Calif.). Saunders hit the first pitch of the at-bat high in the air behind home plate. With the runners off on contact, the ball drifted back into fair territory and glanced off the glove of Sacramento State catcher Morales, allowing Joines to score and give the Tigers an 8-7 lead.

Pacific senior Steve Spurgeon (Stockton, Calif.) picked up the win as he tossed four innings of scoreless relief to move to 2-0 on the season.

Sacramento State reliever Billy Sinacori (3-2) suffered the loss, allowing an unearned run on two hits in 1.1 innings.

The Tigers got on the board in the bottom of the first inning as Saunders led off the game with a walk, senior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.) sent Saunders to second with a single through the left side. One out later, the two Pacific runners advanced to second and third on a pass ball. Devany drove in the first run with a sacrifice fly. Pacific sophomore Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) delivered the second run of the inning on a single up the middle.

Sacramento State scored their first run in the third, but Pacific answered a two-run home run off the bat of Devany, giving the Tigers a 4-1 lead.

The Hornets, however, scored three runs in the fourth to tie the game, then added three more runs in the fifth to take a 7-4 lead.

Devany finished the game 2-for-3 with four RBI to lead the Pacific offense.

Pacific will be back in action on Friday, May 12 as the Tigers face UC Irvine at 6 p.m. in Anteater Ballpark.