May 16, 2008

Box Score

STOCKTON, Calif. - The Pacific baseball team scored a season-high in runs in defeating Cal State Northridge 17-5 on Friday, May 16 at Klein Family Field. The Tigers improved to 12-37, 4-18 in Big West Conference play, while the Matadors fell to 22-29, 6-13 in league games.

The Tigers struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning, scoring on an RBI single by sophomore Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.), and a fielder's choice by freshman Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) that netted two runs on an error by Matador shortstop Jason Dabbs.

Cal State Northridge answered right back in the top of the second inning, as the first three batters reached base against Tiger starting pitcher Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.). Centanni then left the game with tightness in his shoulder, replaced by sophomore Hunter Carnevale (Roseville, Calif.). John Parham greeted Carnevale with a single up the middle to score two runs. The Matadors scored one more run on a Tiger error to even the game at 3-3.

Pacific took the lead back for good in the bottom of the second inning, scoring on another RBI single from Walker. The Tigers would score in every at-bat on the night, scoring the most runs in a game since the 2003 season, when that team scored 17 runs on four occasions.

The Tigers scored on a wild pitch in the third inning, then on fourth inning RBI singles by senior Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) and junior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) to make it 7-3. Pacific added another run in the fifth on a sacrifice fly by senior Noah St. Urbain (Stockton, Calif.) and another four runs in the sixth inning on RBI doubles by Martin and junior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.), a wild pitch and an RBI single by senior Brett Manning (Boulder, Colo.) to move the lead to 12-3.

After the Matadors scored a couple of runs in the top of the seventh, the Tigers answered back on another RBI double by Wideman and a balk. Pacific added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning after consecutive doubles by junior Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.), Ching, Walker and freshman Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.).

Carnevale picked up the win for the Tigers to move to 2-3 on the year, allowing no runs and just one hit in five innings of work. Freshman Andrew Mintun (Stockton, Calif.) pitched the final three innings to pick up his first career save. Matador starting pitcher Drew Muren (3-5) took the loss, allowing five earned runs in four innings of work.

Offensively, Walker led the Tigers with three hits and four RBIs, while Wideman added three hits and two RBIs. Oliveira had two hits with three runs and three stolen bases for Pacific.

The Tigers are next in action against Cal State Northridge on Saturday, May 17 with a 6:00 p.m. game at Klein Family Field.