March 28, 2008
Box Score
Davis, Calif. - The Pacific Tigers found themselves on the wrong end of a duel between aces in the Big West Conference opener on Friday, Mar. 28 as Pacific fell to UC Davis, 4-1.
The loss dropped the Tigers to 5-17 on the season and 0-1 in Big West Conference play. UC Davis, meanwhile, moved to 15-8 overall and 1-0 in conference play.
Scoreless through the first three innings, UC Davis cracked the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fourth inning. With two down and runners at second and third, Aggies' second baseman Matt Dempsey roped a two-run single into center to give UC Davis a 2-0 lead.
The Aggies added two unearned runs in the bottom of the seventh, capitalizing on three Pacific errors in the inning to extend their lead to 4-0.
Pacific got on the board in the top of the eighth with one run on two infield singles, a UC Davis error and a walk. Freshman Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) and junior Jonathan Lewis (San Lorenzo, Calif.) reached on infield singles to start the inning. Junior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) loaded the bases by reaching when Aggie shortstop Scott Heylman bobbled a ground ball. Following a strikeout and a force out at the plate, junior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) drew a four-pitch walk to bring in Lewis. Unfortunately, that was the only offense the Tigers managed as senior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) went down on strikes to end the inning.
UC Davis starter, Eddie Gamboa moved to 4-0 on the season as he allowed one unearned run on six hits and one walk in eight innings. Gamboa recorded six strikeouts in the win. Justin Fitzgerald earned his fourth save of the season with a perfect ninth inning.
Pacific freshman Tyler Waldron (Pilot Hill, Calif.) suffered the loss (1-3) giving up four runs (two earned) on 10 hits and four walks in 7.1 innings.
Ching and Longmire led the Tigers offense as the duo combined for four of Pacific's six hits.
The Tigers and Aggies will continue their three-game series on Saturday, Mar. 29 at 1 p.m.
