March 17, 2009

Box Score

Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific baseball team fell to non-conference foe California 12-2 on Tuesday, March 17. With the loss, Pacific dropped to 6-9 on the year, while the Bears improved to 10-7.

Junior RHP Tye Davis (Marysville, Calif.) suffered the loss and dropped to 0-2 on the season. Cal's lefty Chris Petrini claimed his first win of the year, improving to 1-2.

The Tigers scored their first run in the bottom of the first inning, trailing 3-0 to start out the frame. Senior Joe Oliveira (San Diego, Calif.) drew a walk and served as the first Pacific baserunner of the game. While junior Matt Fuson (Lodi, Calif.) was up to bat, Oliveira took off for second and arrived safely with a stolen base. Fuson flew out to center field and advanced Oliveira within 90 feet of home plate. Sophomore Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) then took his swings in the batter's box and singled to left center to score Oliveira and cut the deficit at 3-1. With one out, senior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) drew Pacific's second walk of the inning, moving Longmire over to second. Senior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) popped out to right field for the second out, while sophomore J.B. Brown grounded out to second to close out the inning.

After the Bears had two more run-scoring innings, California led 8-1 after the top of the fourth inning. McKeever led off the bottom of the fourth and struck out for the first out of the inning. Wideman next reached first on Cal's only error in the game, when shortstop Brian Guinn overthrew to first. Wideman saw the error and advanced to second base on the play. Then Brown came to the plate and launched a double to score Wideman and put Pacific's second run on the board, 8-2. Juniors Jamie Niley (Elk Grove, Calif.) and Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) recorded back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.

Junior David Hovey (San Diego, Calif.) came in the final three innings for the Tigers and did not allow a run to score in relief. He efficiently used 34 pitches against 12 batters faced, surrendering only three hits.

Pacific closes out its current homestand against Dartmouth on Wednsday, March 18. LHP Niley takes to the mound for the Tigers. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.