April 3, 2009
Box Score
Santa Barbara, Calif. - Despite a ninth inning charge by the Tigers' offense in the top of the inning, a final double play squelched the rally as the Pacific baseball team fell 9-8 to UC Santa Barbara on Friday, April 3.
With the loss, Pacific dropped to 10-14 on the year and tallied its first loss in Big West Conference play, 3-1. The Gauchos meanwhile improved to 16-8 and 2-3 in the Big West.
Trailing by two in the fourth, Pacific's starting southpaw senior Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) only needed to face four batters before retiring UC Santa Barbara to head into the top of the fifth inning without any further damage. The Tigers rallied in support of their starting pitcher in the fifth, evening the score at 7-7 when junior Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) doubled to right field to score sophomore Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) just moments before senior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) made it home. McKeever landed safe at home plate by virtue of an error from Steve Cook at second who could not make the play on a ball hit by senior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.).
However, Pacific could not garner enough offensive support to take the game, as UC Santa Barbara scored once more in the bottom of the fifth and again in the sixth to take a final 9-7 lead. Martin tried to come up with a late-inning solution when he launched a one-out homer in the top of the ninth to bring Pacific to a one-run deficit, 9-8. Wideman then followed up with walk before the game's end.
Down by seven entering the top of the fourth inning, the Tigers sent Martin to the plate to lead things off and he delivered with a single to left field. One out later, Walker recorded Pacific's second single of the inning to move Martin over to third base with runners at both corners. Freshman Josh Simms (La Mesa, Calif.) then drew a walk to load the bases for sophomore Ben Gorang (Turlock, Calif.). Gorang then came to the plate and was hit by starting pitcher RHP Joe Gardner, to draw and RBI to score Martin and cut the deficit at 7-1 in favor of the Gauchos.
With one out and the bases still loaded, sophomore Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) launched only his second home run of the year, good enough for a grand slam to bring the Tigers within striking distance at 7-5, before they headed to the bottom of the inning.
Martin led the way at the plate for Pacific, when he went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and one RBI. Centanni (3-3) suffered the loss on the hill for the Tigers, as Gardner (4-0) was the winning pitcher of record. David Meals earned his fourth save of the season for the Gauchos.
Pacific returns to action for the second game of this three-game series at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 4. Senior RHP Cole Akins is set to take to the mound for Pacific on Saturday from Caesar Uyesaka Stadium in Santa Barbara, Calif.
