Feb. 22, 2008

Box Score

Houston, Texas Despite a strong outing from starting pitcher, junior Cole Akins (Seattle, Wash.) the Pacific baseball team dropped its 2008 season opener, 3-1, to Houston on Friday, Feb. 22.

The loss dropped the Tigers to 0-1 on the season, while Houston moved to 1-0. Pacific got on the board first in the bottom of the second inning when junior transfer Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) blasted a solo home run over the left-center field wall in his first at-bat as a Tiger. Two outs later, freshman J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas) connected for the Tigers first triple of the season to deep right-center, but was stranded at third.

Houston responded in the bottom half of the second inning with four two-out singles to plate two runs. The second Cougar run was almost gunned down at the plate on a strong throw from McKeever in right field, however junior catcher Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) couldn't hold onto the throw after a collision at the plate.

The Cougars added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning on an RBI double from shortstop Blake Kelso to push their lead to 3-1.

The score remained stagnant for the rest of the contest as both sides displayed dominant pitching.

Pacific starter, junior Cole Akins (Seattle, Wash.), scattered 10 hits in six innings in the loss (0-1). He did not walk a batter and recorded two strikeouts, allowing three earned runs in the game.

Houston hurler Wes Musick (1-0) allowed one run on four hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Three relievers combined to preserve the lead for Musick, including John Touchton, who tossed a scoreless inning to pick up his first save of the season.

Senior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) led the Tigers with a 2-for-5 effort.

Five players finished with two hits for the Cougars, led by a 2-for-3, three RBI performance from Kelso.

The Tigers and Cougars will continue their three game on Saturday, Feb. 23 at 1 p.m. (PST)