Feb. 28, 2009
Box Score
San Diego, Calif. - Senior Cole Akins (Seattle, Wash.) tossed seven strong innings to lead the Pacific baseball team to its second victory over a ranked opponent, 6-3, over No. 26 San Diego State in Pacific's third game at the University of San Diego Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28.
The victory evened Pacific's record at 3-3 on the season, while San Diego State fell to 3-3. It was the first game of a doubleheader against the Aztecs.
The early innings of this contest showed the Tigers' grit and determination as San Diego State took the lead on two separate occasions only to see Pacific strike back the very next time at-bat.
San Diego State put the first run of the game on the board in the bottom of the second with a walk and two singles. The Tigers answered in the top of the third after two were down when senior Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) drove a single into left field, took second on a wild pitch, then scored on a single to left off the bat of sophomore Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.).
The Aztecs reclaimed the lead for an instant in the bottom of the fifth on three consecutive two-out singles, but Pacific starter Akins worked himself out of a jam by inducing a ground ball to third to end the inning.
In the top of the sixth, San Diego native Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) picked up his Akins and his team with a towering home run over the left field wall to tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained tied into the top of the eighth inning, when Pacific exploited every opportunity to plate four runs on four singles and a hit batter. Junior shortstop Ben Gorang (Turlock, Calif.) opened the inning with a single through the left side, then Centanni and Martin both dropped down perfect bunt singles to load the bases with no outs. After Longmire went down on strikes, senior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) was drilled with a pitch in the back to lift Pacific to a 3-2 lead. Moments later a pick-off attempt at second base went awry.
The throw bounced out into center field, allowing Centanni to scamper home and sending McKeever and Martin to second and third respectively. An RBI ground-out from sophomore J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas) brought Martin home to make ti 5-2, then junior Jamie Niley (Elk Grove, Calif.) rounded out the scoring by driving in McKeever with a shot into center.
Sophomore Thomas Berolzheimer (Stockton, Calif.) extricated the Tigers from a two-on no out jam in the eighth and worked past a little wildness in the ninth to preserve the win and pick up his second save of the season.
Akins earned the victory (1-0) allowing two runs on nine hits and a walk over seven innings.
San Diego State starter, Jon Berger, suffered the loss (0-2) as he gave up five runs on 10 hits in seven innings of work.
Pacific and San Diego State complete their doubleheader and the Tigers complete action in the University of San Diego Tournament at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28.
