March 24, 2007

Box Score

Los Angeles, Calif.- Sophomore Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) delivered three RBI at the plate, including a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Pacific baseball team to a 4-3 victory over UCLA on Saturday, March 24.

With the win the Tigers moved to 7-17-1, while UCLA fell to 8-14 overall.

Pacific grabbed the first two runs of the game in the top of the fourth inning as sophomore Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) led off the inning with an infield single. Oliveira advanced to third on a double into left-center field off the bat of junior Justin Baum (San Diego, Calif.). Centanni drove in Pacific's first run of the game with a short single into right field. One out later, sophomore Zach Chamberlin (San Rafael, Calif.)plated Baum on a double down the right field line as Pacific.

UCLA pulled even with single runs in the bottom of the fifth and bottom of the seventh. UCLA shortstop Brandon Crawford delivered the Bruins' first run of the game with a two-out RBI single in the fifth. A two-out single also did the Tigers in during the seventh inning as pinch hitter Will Penniall greeted Pacific reliever freshman David Hovey (San Diego, Calif.) with an RBI single into right field in the seventh to tie the game at 2-2.

After surrendering the lead in the bottom of the seventh, Pacific responded with two runs in the top of the eighth. Junior Denis Hill (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) got the Pacific rally started with a leadoff single into left field. Junior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) moved Hill to second with a sacrifice bunt, then Oliveira drew a walk to put runners at first and second. Baum followed with a short single to center field, loading the bases for Centanni.

Down in the count 0-1, Centanni laced a slider into right field for a two-run double that proved to be the game winner.

Staked to a 4-2 lead, the Tigers turned to their bullpen as junior Jason Haar (San Diego, Calif.) pitched a scoreless eighth inning to set up Pacific closer, sophomore Cole Akins (Seattle, Wash.)

Akins worked out of a difficult ninth inning thanks to some quick thinking by Hill and Baum. With two outs and a run in for UCLA in the ninth, the Bruins had runners at first and second. UCLA's Alden Carrithers blasted a single off Baum's glove that should have loaded the bases, but pinch runner Dustin Quist rounded third to far. Hill had alertly grabbed the ball off of Baum's glove, then fired the ball back to Baum at third. Baum applied a quick tag on Quist to secure the victory for the Tigers.

Hovey (1-0) picked up the win for Pacific as he allowed one hit in one-third of an inning.

UCLA started Tyson Brummett (3-4) suffered the loss as he allowed three runs on nine hits and one walk in 7.1 innings.

Centanni and Baum paced the Tigers' offense in the contest as Centanni was 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Baum was 4-for-4 with a run scored.

The Tigers and Bruins will continue their three-game series on Sunday, March 25 at 1 p.m. in Jackie Robinson Stadium.