March 15, 2009
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific baseball team swept its first series of 2009, taking the final game over Houston, 10-2 on Sunday, March 15. The series sweep is the Tigers' first since doing so over Cal State Northridge to close out the 2006 season.
Pacific improved to 6-8 overall after the sweep, while Houston dropped to 3-14 on a four-game losing streak.
Junior RHP Hunter Carnevale (Roseville, Calif.) claimed the win with no earned runs on a two-hit gem through seven innings pitched. He moves to 1-2 on the year. RHP Michael Goodnight suffered his first loss of the year, dropping to 2-1.
After Carenvale faced the minimum number of batters in the top of the first, Pacific came into the bottom of the inning for its most productive at-bat of the three-game series against Houston.
Senior DH Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) and junior center fielder Matt Fuson (Lodi, Calif.) were retired in order to open the inning for two quick outs. Sophomore left fielder Nick Longmire's (San Diego, Calif.) patience at the plate paid off, when he drew a walk on a full-count. With no other options, senior right fielder Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) drove a two-out double into right field to score Longmire (.314 average, 1-for-3, 1 RBI) and put Pacific ahead 1-0. McKeever (.319 average, 2-for-4, 3 RBI) then moved over to third base in the next at-bat on a wild pitch. One pitch later, sophomore second baseman J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas) connected for a single to score McKeever from third, running the scoreboard up 2-0.
Senior catcher Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) then saw a passed ball, which helped Brown get to second base and in scoring position. With a full count, Wideman (.391 average, 1-for-2, 1 double) walked to put runners on first and second. That brought up junior third baseman Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.). Goodnight missed his release point and threw a pitch that brushed Walker, loading the bases. Sophomore first baseman Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) (.357 average, 3-for-4, 3 RBI) drove in two runs when he singled out to right field, then advanced to second on the right fielder's throwing error trying to tag Brown (.370 average, 2-for-5, 1 RBI) out at the plate. William Kankel overthrew to his catcher and the ball rolled into Houston's dugout, as the umpires automatically granted Wideman homeplate. Pacific then took a 5-0 lead with two outs in the first inning. Junior shortstop Ben Gorang (Turlock, Calif.) ended the inning grounding out to shortstop.
Carnevale (5.23 ERA) came back to the mound and again retired the Cougars' line-up in order. Pacific's starter's diligence on the mound paid off, as he had a no-hitter heading into the sixth inning. Through that period of time, Carnevale recorded six strikeouts.
Relievers senior Larry Holscher (McArthur, Calif.) and junior Andrew Mintun (Stockton, Calif.) continued Pacific's defensive spectacle, combining for two hits in two scoreless innings of relief.
Offensively, the Tigers scored one run in the second inning, highlighted by Fuson's (1-for-5, 1 double) second-consecutive double of the series. The Tigers came back with two more runs in the third, when Wideman recorded his 10th double of 2009. Pacific finished its 10-run effort with two more in the bottom of the eighth, after McKeever singled to drive in Longmire and Fuson.
Pacific continues its homestand, hosting California at 5:35 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17.
