May 17, 2009

Box Score

Northridge, Calif. - Breaking away from a 7-7 tie in the top of the ninth, the Pacific baseball team could not hang on in time for the victory, falling 10-9 in the bottom of the ninth at Cal State Northridge on Sunday, May 17.

With the loss, Pacific dropped to 19-31 overall and finished Big West Conference play with a 9-15 record in 2009. The Matadors improved to 21-32 overall and 6-15 in the Big West.

Tied 7-7 one out into the top of the ninth inning, sophomore J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas) drew a full-count walk to put the first baserunner aboard in the frame. Senior Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) moved him around when the senior singled through the left side and put Brown into scoring position at second base. On what could have been an inning-ending double play, senior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) averted disaster when the second baseman TS Reed looked to second to make the throw before he ever fielded the ball. Instead of turning two, the ball went into right field and Brown came home to score and break the tie, 8-7.

Junior Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) next took his turn at the plate with Wideman at first and Centanni at third with one out on the board. Walker then launched a deep shot to right field that was caught, but did its job as a sacrifice to score Centanni from third while Pacific took a 9-7 lead.

However, four Tiger bullpen pitchers made their way into the bottom of the ninth and Pacific lost its lead, falling 10-9 in the final half inning of the game. The Matadors tied the game at 7-7 when they tallied five runs in the bottom of the seventh.

Pacific trailed by a score of 2-0 early on in the game, until the third inning. Junior Ben Gorang (Turlock, Calif.) led off the frame with a single to shortstop and then put himself into scoring position when he stole second during sophomore Nick Longmire's (San Diego, Calif.) at-bat. Brown drove in both runners off of a three-run homer over the right field wall. That gave Pacific a momentary 3-2 lead.

Two innings later, Longmire repeated the feat by crushing a monster solo shot well over the left field wall. The Tigers then held a 4-2 lead and kept the lead until the seventh inning.

Pacific hosts one final series this year, taking on Cal State Bakersfield for non-conference action from Friday, May 22 through Sunday, May 24. Friday's first pitch is slated for 5:35 p.m. at Klein Family Field.