May 22, 2009
Box Score
Stockton, Calif. - The Pacific baseball team exploded its offense in support of starting pitcher LHP Joey Centanni (San Diego, Calif.) for a 21-8 non-conference victory over Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, May 22.
With the win, Pacific hit the 20-win mark at 20-31 on the 2009 season. Cal State Bakersfield dropped to 12-36 this year.
Despite a three-run shot to put Cal State Bakersfield up 3-0 in the second, the Tigers came back in the bottom of the frame to go ahead for the first time in the game.
Junior Mike Walker (Marysville, Calif.) started the inning off with a single through the right side of the field. One out later senior Mike McKeever (San Diego, Calif.) followed up with the Tigers' second hit of the inning to move Walker over to second base. Then junior Ben Gorang (Turlock, Calif.) came up huge with a runner in scoring position and doubled to trade places with Walker and push McKeever to third while the Tigers cut the Roadrunners' lead, 3-1.
After another out in the inning, freshman Josh Simms (La Mesa, Calif.) drew a walk to load up the bases with two outs in the second. The Tigers then continued to do what they've excelled at all year and plate runners in an extensive two-out rally. Sophomore J.B. Brown (Alvin, Texas) kicked it off with a single past shortstop Eric Sanchez and moved all runners up one base and give the Tigers their second run, 3-2.
With the bases loaded, Centanni helped out his cause and put Pacific up with a two-out double that scored Simms and Gorang. The Tigers then went ahead 4-3 after two.
However, Cal State Bakersfield kept in the game, tying things up with another run in the top of the third. Both teams tangled for another inning until the Tigers broke open the tie in the bottom of the fourth.
Rocketing off another of Pacific's nine total doubles was Gorang to lead off the fourth. That put a runner in scoring position for sophomore Nick Longmire (San Diego, Calif.) to launch his sixth home run of the season and move the Tigers up 6-4. But again, the Tigers plated additional runs in the fourth after recording two outs. Centanni continued Pacific's offense with a two-out triple and came home when senior Kurt Wideman (Fallbrook, Calif.) singled him past the plate. However, Wideman himself switched places with Centanni as the right fielder Ryan McIntyre misplayed the ball and recorded a fielding error. The Tigers then had a 7-4 lead with a runner on third and two outs in the fourth inning. Walker rounded out the two-out scoring with another double to send Wideman home, 8-4.
Centanni did his part to keep the Roadrunners scoreless in the fifth, while Pacific then exploded for five runs that inning, taking a 13-4 lead after five complete.
Entering the top of the sixth inning, the Tigers had a 13-4 lead over the Roadrunners. The designated hitter, Martin Medina, lead off with a single. Centanni struck out the next batter, but a double by Jeremy Rodriguez brought Medina to third with only one out. McIntyre grounded out to second baseman, Brown, but earned himself a RBI, as Medina came in to score, cutting Pacific's lead at 13-5. Centanni forced a pop up to right field to retire the side for the top of the sixth.
Gorang reached base on a walk to start the bottom of the sixth. Longmire followed with a single to bring Gorang around to third. Simms came up with a RBI double, as Gorang would score, and Longmire advanced to third. After Brown was hit by a pitch, Centanni followed with a sac fly to score Longmire. Two batters later, Walker hit a shot over the right field fence for his sixth home run of the year. The three run homer boosted the Tigers to an 18-5 lead.
The Roadrunners came back with three more runs in the top of the seventh to try to prolong the inevitable with the score 18-8. But the Tigers continued their highest offensive production of 2009 and added three more final runs for the 21-8 victory.
Centanni (5-6) earned the win after tossing 100 pitches over 7.0 innings with four strikeouts. RHP Spenser Messmore dropped to 2-4 for the Roadrunners on the year after the loss.
The Tigers next return to action on Saturday, May 23, at 5:35 p.m.
