April 10, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - A late two-run rally lifted the Pacific Tigers to a 4-3 comeback win over Hawai'i on Tuesday, April 10.

The win moved the Tigers to 9-25-1 on the season, while Hawai'i fell to 24-13.

Hawai'i grabbed an early lead in the top of the first inning as the Rainbows scored two runs on three hits and an error. Kris Sanchez drove in the first run for Hawai'i on an RBI single to right field. With two outs in the inning, the Rainbows took advantage of a Pacific error to plate their second run.

The Tigers responded with two runs of their own in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) ignited the Pacific rally with a double to deep left field. Sophomore Zach Chamberlin (San Rafael, Calif.) followed with a double to right center, plating Oliveira to make it a 2-1 game. Following a short single to right by junior Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.), junior Jason Haar (San Diego, Calif.) tied the game with an RBI single up the middle.

Tied at 2-2 with runners at the corners and nobody out, Baum was cut down at home on a fielder's choice off the bat of junior Brett Manning (Boulder, Colo.). Pacific, unfortunately, could not push across any additional runs.

Hawai'i reclaimed the lead in the top of the fifth as the Rainbows scored a run on back-to-back two-out doubles from pinch-hitter Jorge Franco and Justin Frash.

Pacific starter, senior Curtis Pasma (Madera, Calif.) kept the Rainbows right there into the eigthh inning as Pasma allowed just three runs (two earned) on eight hits. Pasma did not walk a batter, while notching eight strikeouts.

With Pasma keeping Hawai'i within reach, the Tiger offense had team to strike in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Junior Greg Murray (El Cerrito, Calif.) put Pacific in great position as he led off the eighth with a triple off the left field wall. Junior John Joines (Milpitas, Calif.) walked to put runners at the corners. Following a line out, pinch-hitter Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) lifted a sacrifice fly just deep enough into right field to score Murray with the tying run.

Tied 3-3, Joines moved to second on a passed ball, then Oliveira made the Rainbows pay for the error by bouncing the game-winning single up the middle.

Pacific reliever, sophomore Casey Neimeyer (Woodland, Calif.) recoded the final out of the eighth inning and tossed a scoreless ninth to earn his first career victory.

Hawai'i reliever Jayson Kramer (3-1) took the loss as he allowed two runs on three hits and a walk in the eighth.

Pacific will be back in action on Friday, April 13 as the Tigers head to Santa Barbara, Calif. to take on the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the first of a three-game series at 2 p.m.