March 1, 2008
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Despite tallying six runs in the final four innings, including a pinch hit three-run home from from junior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.), the Pacific baseball team fell to Washington, 9-7, on Saturday, Mar. 1
The loss dropped the Tigers to 1-5 on the season, while Washington moved to 4-3 overall.
Washington cracked the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning as the Huskies took advantage of a Pacific error to take a 1-0 lead. With one one, third baseman Aaron Murphy singled into right field. Pacific catcher Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) tried to catch Murphy napping off first base, but the throw sailed into right field, allowing Murphy to go to third. A ground out to second by Troy Scott gave Washington a 1-0 lead.
Pacific answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third as senior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) reached on a hit by pitch. Junior Zach Chamberlin (San Rafael, Calif.) dropped a perfect bunt single down the third base line to put runners at first and second with no outs. A wild pitch moved both Tigers up 90 feet, then Oliveira plated Ching on a RBI ground out to tie the game at 1-1.
The score remained tied until the top of the sixth inning when Washington exploded for eight runs on eight hits and two errors. The big blow in the inning was a three-year blast over the right field wall by Andy Lentz.
Despite trailing 9-1 in the sixth, the Tigers refused to give in and began chipping away in the bottom of the sixth. Junior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) got the Tigers going with a double to right center field. One out later, freshman J.B. Brown doubled to left center to make it 9-2.
Pacific continued to chip away at the lead in the bottom of the seventh as junior Jonathan Lewis (San Lorenzo, Calif.) reached on a bunt single. One out later, Chamberlin was hit by a pitch, then Oliveira walked to load the bases. McKeever followed with an RBI single, then freshman Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) lined out to center for a sacrifice fly to make it 9-4.
The Tigers' charge started again in the bottom of the eighth. Sophomore Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) and freshman Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) started the inning with consecutive singles. Junior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) was then called upon to pinch hit. Wideman delivered in the biggest way he could, a three-run home run over the left field wall. Wideman slammed a 3-1 pitch well into left field to make it 9-7.
The Tigers brought the tying run to the plate in the eighth inning but were unable to complete the improbable comeback, falling 9-7.
Freshman Tyler Waldron (0-1) suffered the loss as he allowed six runs (four earned) on eight hits.
Washington's Jason Erickson (1-1) earned the victory, allowing one run on four hits and a walk in five innings.
The Tigers and Huskies conclude their three game set with an afternoon contest on Sunday, Mar. 2 at Klein Family Field.
