March 31, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific baseball team battled back from an early 7-1 deficit to take and 8-7 lead before succumbing to Cal Poly, 13-9, on Saturday, March 31.

The loss dropped Pacific to 7-21-1 on the season and 0-2 in the Big West Conference, while Cal Poly moved to 15-16 overall and 2-0 in Big West play.

The Tigers spotted the Mustangs four runs in the top of the first inning. Cal Poly's big blast came off the bat of Brent Morel, who knocked a two-run home run out of the yard to make it 4-0.

Pacific junior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) got the Tigers on the board in the bottom half of the first as he led off the inning with a solo blast over the left field wall. It was Ching's second home run of the year.

Cal Poly added three more runs in the top of the third on four singles, a walk and an error.

Trailing by six, the Tigers mounted a furious comeback in the fifth and sixth innings. Pacific tallied seven runs on eight hits to claim an 8-7 lead.

Pacific began its rally in the fifth as junior John Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. One out later, Ching beat out a bunt single down the first base line to put runners on first and second with one out. Sophomore Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) followed with a two-run triple into right-center to chase home both Joines and Ching. Junior Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) drove in Oliveira four pitches later with a single to center, cutting the Cal Poly lead to 7-4.

The Tigers went back to work in the bottom of the sixth against Cal Poly relief pitcher Andrew Slorp.

With one out in the inning pinch hitter, junior Brett Manning (Boulder, Colo.) got the Pacific rally started with a single into center. A single up the middle from Joines and a throwing error from Cal Poly shortstop Kyle Smith put runners at second and third. With two outs in the inning, Ching bounced a single up the third base line to score Manning and send Joines to third. Oliveira followed with a single up the middle to make it a 7-6 contest as Joines scored and Ching moved to second.

The Mustangs intentionally walked Baum to load the bases for sophomore Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.). The move backfired when Centanni lined a two-run single into left field, giving Pacific an 8-7 lead.

The score remained 8-7 until the top of the eighth inning, when Cal Poly scored five runs on five hits and two errors to reclaim the lead, 12-8. All five of the Mustangs runs in the eighth came with two down.

The Mustangs went on to take the game 13-9.

Cal Poly reliever Derrick Saito (2-0) captured the win for the Mustangs as he held the Tigers to one run on one hit and one walk in 3.1 innings of relief.

Pacific sophomore Cole Akins (Seattle, Wash.) suffered the loss (0-2) by giving up five runs on five hits and a walk in one inning of relief.

Oliveira and Ching led the Pacific offense as the duo combined for five hits, five runs scored and five RBI.

The Tigers and Mustangs will conclude their three game series on Sunday, April 1 at 1 p.m. The Tigers will look to salvage the series finale, while the Mustangs go for the sweep at Klein Family Field.