May 12, 2007

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - Despite a two-run rally in the eighth inning, the Pacific baseball team came up just short, 4-3, against No. 13 UC Irvine on Saturday, May 12.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 13-39 on the season and 1-16 in Big West play. UC Irvine, meanwhile, moved to 33-14-1 overall and 9-5 in conference play.

Single runs in top of the second and the fifth innings gave UC Irvine a 2-0 lead.

The Tigers got on the in the bottom of the fifth inning behind three hits. Freshman Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) got the Tigers rolling with a single up the middle. One out later, Walker went to second on a balk, then took third on a single up the middle by freshman Josh Powers (Elk Grove, Calif.). Sophomore Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) laced a single through the left side to plate Walker and pull the Tigers within a run at 2-1.

The Anteaters added single runs in the sixth and eighth innings to push their lead to 4-1.

In the eighth inning the Tigers put together another rally. Freshman Matt Fuson (Lodi, Calif.) drew a one out walk, then sophomore Zach Chamberlin (San Rafael, Calif.) drilled a single to right-center to put runners at the corners. Chamberlin's single extended his season-high hitting streak to 19 games and brought Pacific junior Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.) to the plate.

Baum, however, would not face UC Irvine starter, Wes Etheridge, for a third time as the Anteaters called for Bryan Peterson to make his first appearance on the mound this season.

Baum greeted Peterson with a sacrifice fly to center field, plating Fuson. Junior Jason Haar (San Diego, Calif.) followed with a single to right field to put the tying run on base. The next Pacific batter, junior Greg Murray (El Cerrito, Calif.), laced a single to right field to make it a 4-3 game and put the tying run in scoring position at second base.

UC Irvine wasted no time going to closer Blair Erickson to try to nail down a four-out save. The NCAA career saves leader struck out Walker to end the Tigers threat in the fourth, then struck out the side in the ninth to preserve the victory for UC Irvine.

Etheridge, earned the victory (10-4) giving up just three runs on seven hits and one walk in 7.1 innings. Erickson, meanwhile, picked up his 12th save of the season and his 52nd career save.

Pacific senior Curtis Pasma (Madera, Calif.) suffered the loss (1-6) as he allowed four runs, three earned on 12 hits and four walks in 7.2 innings.

Murray and Baum led the Tigers' offense as the duo were a combined 4-for-7 with two RBI.

Pacific and UC Irvine will conclude their three-game series on Sunday, May 13 at 1 p.m. at Klein Family Field