March 27, 2009
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - Behind a complete game and a solo home run from senior Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.), the Pacific baseball team opened Big West Conference play with an 8-4 win over UC Davis on Friday, Mar. 27.
The victory lifted the Tigers to 8-12 on the season and 1-0 in Big West play, while UC Davis fell to 3-15 overall and 0-1 in conference.
Each team scratch across a couple of early runs as Pacific notched single runs in both the first and the second innings, while UC Davis answered with one in the third and one in the fourth.
The Tigers first run came via three straight two-out singles from sophomore J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas), senior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) and finally an RBI knock from sophomore Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.).
The following inning, senior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) blasted a deep double off the center field wall, then junior Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) drove an RBI single into center to make it 2-0.
After the Aggies had tied the game at 2-2, the Tigers' offense showed some preceision execution resulting in three runs in the sixth.
McKeever got the rally started after leading off the frame by taking a pitch to the shoulder. Martin followed with a line drive to center that was misplayed into an error, then Wideman was struck by a pitch to load the bases.
Walker strode to the plate and bounced a single through the right side to bring home McKeever and keep the bases loaded. Junior Jamie Niley (Elk Grove, Calif.) forced Walker at second on a grounder to short, plating Martin and sending Wideman to third. The inning was capped by a textbook safety squeeze from junior Ben Gorang (Turlock, Calif.) to bring in Wideman and make it 5-2.
UC Davis got one back in the top of the seventh, but Centanni answered with a solo home run to open the bottom half of the frame to make it 6-3. That was more than enough for the Tigers' senior left-handed hurler.
Centanni (3-2) went on to toss his first complete game since his freshman season (2005) allowing four runs (two earned) on ten hits and did not walk a batter.
UC Davis' starter Tom Briner (0-3) suffered the loss, allowing five runs (three earned) on six hits, two walks and two hit batters in five innings.
Centanni and Walker each finished 2-for-4 with two RBI in the game.
The Tigers and Aggies continue their three-game series on Saturday, Mar. 28 at 5:35 p.m. at Klein Family Field.
