Feb. 23, 2007

Box Score

Clemson, SC - Despite an early 3-0 lead, the Pacific baseball team fell to No. 2 Clemson, 8-3, on Friday, Feb. 23.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 4-7 on the season, while Clemson moved to 4-1.

Pacific opened the scoring with a run in the third inning as sophomore Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) led off with a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. One out later, junior Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) tripled to right field, plating Oliviera for the first run of the game.

Pacific found the scoring column again in the fourth inning as the Tigers pushed the lead to 3-0. Sophomore Zach Chamberlin (San Rafael, Calif.) got the rally started with a single through the right side. Chamberlin took second on a wild pitch and reached third on groundout pff the bat of sophomore Erik Hamren (Coto de Caza, Calif.). Chamberlin scampered home moments later on another wild pitch. With two outs in the inning, junior John Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) lined his first career home run to left field, putting Pacific on top 3-0.

Clemson came roaring back in the bottom of the fifth inning as Doug Hogan hit a solo home run to left-center to lead off the scoring. With two outs, Brad Chalk singled to right field and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Following a dropped foul ball that would have ended the inning, Clemson's Taylor Harbin laced a double to left-center, plating Chalk. Moments later, Marquez Smith singled through the left side, plating Harbin to tie the score 3-3.

The Clemson offense continued to roll in the bottom of the sixth as the Tigers exploded for five runs on five hits, including a solo home run by Stan Widmann that gave Clemson the lead for good.

Pacific starter, sophomore Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) suffered the loss (0-3) as he surrendered five runs (three earned) on eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched.

Clemson's Stephen Clyne (1-0) picked up the win in relief as he tossed a career high 5.1 scoreless innings of relief allowing only three hits and striking out five with one walk to earn the victory.

Baum led the Tigers offensively with a double and triple in five at-bats.

Pacific and Clemson will conclude their three game series on Saturday, Feb. 24 as the two teams are playing a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. (PST). Originally the three game series was scheduled to conclude on Sunday, Feb. 25 at 9 a.m. (PST), however to avoid the inclement weather predicted, both teams agreed to play a doublehead on Saturday. There will be 45 minutes in between the two nine-inning games.