March 5, 2008

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific baseball team suffered an 11-6 loss to BYU on Wednesday, Mar. 5.

The Tigers dropped to 2-7 on the season with the loss, while BYU moved to 4-5.

The Cougars took advantage of critical free passes in the first five innings, building a 3-0. Each of BYU's three early runs reached base via the walk as the two of the first three hitters in the second inning earned bases on balls. First baseman Kasey Ko knocked in the first run of the ball game with a single through the right side, then Brandon Relf delivered an RBI ground to give BYU a 2-0 lead in the second.

In the fifth inning, BYU second baseman Daniel Vargas drew a one out walk, then Kent Walton blasted an RBI double into left-center field to make it 3-0.

The sixth inning was a strange affair for both teams, offensively and defensively. In the top of the sixth, Pacific committed three errors that led to two BYU runs, giving the Cougars a 5-0 lead.

The bottom of the sixth saw BYU hand back three unearned runs to the Tigers on two errors. Freshmen Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) and Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) nabbed an RBI in the inning. Longmire drove in a run on a fielder's choice, while Martin delivered a pinch-hit single to center.

Trailing 5-3 in the top of the seventh, two more Tiger errors led to two additional BYU runs, giving the Cougars a 7-3 lead.

The ninth inning also proved eventful for both teams offensively as BYU plated four runs on four hits and two walks to make it 11-3.

Pacific came back in the bottom of the inning with three runs on a walk to Martin, a two-out RBI single from junior Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) and back-to-back RBI doubles from junior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) and senior Jason Haar (San Diego, Calif.). The Tigers rally, however, came up short as Pacific fell, 11-6.

BYU's Tyler Westensee (1-0) picked up the win, allowing three unearned runs on six hits and one walk, while notching eight strikeouts in six innings. Justin Shutt earned his first save of the season for the Cougars with three innings of relief.

Pacific sophomore Hunter Carnevale (Roseville, Calif.) suffered the loss (1-2) surrendering five runs on five hits and four walks in six innings.

McKeever led the Tigers with two hits, two runs scored and an RBI.

Pacific concludes its season-high nine game homestand with three contests against Gonzaga this weekend. The first game featuring the Bulldogs and Tigers will begin on Friday, Mar. 7 at 6 p.m.