May 5, 2007

Box Score

Riverside, Calif. - With the help of seven strike outs in seven and a third innings from senior pitcher Curtis Pasma (Madera, Calif.), the Tigers snapped UC Riverside's seven game winning streak and recorded their first conference victory of the season by a score of 5-3 on May 5. With the win the Tigers advanced to 11-36-1 on the year, while the Highlanders fell to 29-18.

The Tigers jumped out to an early lead in the contest scoring four runs in the first inning on three throwing errors by the Highlanders defense, a double by Justin Baum (La Mesa, Calif.), and a single by Greg Murray (El Cerrito). Baum's shot to left center drove in three base runners for the Tigers, while Murray's single down the left field line later scored Baum from second.

In the bottom of the second inning, Riverside's Mark Samuelson and Mike Vass strung together back to back hits to pull the game within three, but Pacific's lead would never be in doubt.

In the top of the fifth, the Tigers scored an insurance run when Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) tripled down the right field line and was batted in by Matt Fuson (Lodi, Calif.). The potent Highlander offense scored two runs in the bottom of the eighth, but the Tigers eventually held on to capture their first conference victory of the season by a score of 5-3, snapping the Highlanders seven game winning streak.

Pasma was credited with the win for the Tigers, while Marc Rzepczynski suffered the loss for UC Riverside. Pacific scored five runs on seven hits and one error, while the Highlanders scored just three runs on nine hits in the game, recording four errors. Oliveira, Baum, and Murray each had multiple hits in the game to lead the Tigers offense.

Pacific will next be in action against UC Riverside at 1:00 p.m. on May 6, for the final game of the three game series held in Riverside, Calif.