Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score

Clemson, SC The Pacific Tigers baseball team fell to 4-8 on the season with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to No. 2 ranked Clemson on Saturday, February 24th, in game one of a day-night doubleheader.

With the win, Clemson improved to 5-1 and insured a series victory over visiting Pacific.

For the second straight game Pacific struck first in the top of the second as, following a double by sophomore Erik Hamren (Coto de Caza, Calif.), freshman Josh Powers (Elk Grove, Calif.) stuck out swinging, but the third strike was dropped by Clemson catcher Alex Burg. Burg retrieved the ball and came up firing, but sailed the ball over the head of first basemen Andy D'Alessio, allowing Hamren to score from second. Powers then advanced to second following a sacrifice bunt by junior John Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) and scored on a double by sophomore Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead.

Clemson came back to score two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning as shortstop Stan Widmann delivered a bases loaded single that scored Addison Johnson and Doug Hogan. The bases were still loaded three batters later when Joines and sophomore Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) collided with each other on the right field warning track tracking down a deep fly ball by D'Alessio, but Joines was able to keep his composure and catch the baseball, ending the Clemson threat.

Widmann then added his third RBI of the day in the sixth inning, singling home D.J. Mitchell to give the Orange and Purple Tigers a 3-2 lead over the Orange and Black.

It didn't take long for Pacific to respond as the Tigers strung together back to back singles from Centanni and junior Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.), and following a sacrifice bunt by junior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.), junior Brett Manning (Boulder, Col.) grounded out to second, plating Centanni to tie the score at 3-3.

It would stay tied until the bottom of the 11th as Johnson led off the inning with a single up the middle. J.D. Burgess moved Johnson to second on a sacrifice bunt. Brad Chalk followed with a slow roller over the pitchers mound and Powers fielded and threw in the dirt to first base, past the outstretched arms of Manning allowing Johnson to come all the way around to score the winning run.

Pacific got a strong outing from freshman hurler David Rowse (Pleasanton, Calif.) who scattered six hits over seven innings of work, giving up three runs, including two earned while striking out three. Senior Jake Wild (Kingsburg, Calif.) picked up the loss for the Tigers, falling to 1-2 on the season, but he pitched three and a third strong innings, giving up four hits and an unearned run while striking out two.

Clemson closer Daniel Moskos, the only Californian on the Orange and Purple Tigers roster, picked up the win, improving to 2-0 on the season.