March 19, 2011

LOS ANGELES - Pacific won a wild game one of a double-header at USC Saturday, 10-9, thanks to a six-run seventh inning. Matt Carvutto went three-for-five with an RBI and earned the save, while Brian Martin posted a two-for-four day with a home run.

Pacific tallied in the first, as junior CF Brett Christopher (Livermore, Calif.) and sophomore 2B Dustin Torchio (Santa Cruz, Calif.) each walked to open the ballgame. With one out, LF Matt Carvutto (Poway, Calif.) delivered a single to right field to plate Christopher and stake the Tigers to a 1-0 lead.

Senior 1B Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) drilled a solo home run to right field to put Pacific up 2-0, and then junior 3B Daniel Johnston (Portola Valley, Calif.) reached on an error. After a failed pickoff, sophomore DH Tyger Pederson (Palo Alto, Calif.) singled to center to plate the third run of the game.

In the bottom of the third, USC cut the margin to 3-2 as James Roberts reached via error and USC first baseman Ricky Oropesa doubled him home. Alex Sherrod followed with a RBI single as the Trojans pulled within one run.

Pacific picked up the run in the fourth as Christopher reached on a bunt single, stole second and came in on an RBI single from junior RF Allen Riley (Fresno, Calif.).

The Tigers then hung a six-run inning on USC in the seventh, seemingly blowing the game open. Torchio opened the inning with a single, and after Carvutto lined a single off RHP Matt Munson, USC had to go to the pen again. New pitcher Bobby Wheatley walked Martin, to load the bases, and Johnston followed with a single to third base, plating the first run.

Pinch hitter Brent McMinn (Houston, Texas) laced a single to right field to score two more, and after Jason Taasaas (Elk Grove, Calif.) walked, pinch hitter John Haberman (Stockton, Calif.) added a two-run single. Christopher added a sacrifice fly and a the six-run seventh put Pacific up 10-2.

However, USC answered with six runs of their own in the seventh, as three straight pinch-hitters delivered singles off RHP Robbie Richardson (Lodi, Calif.). Adam Landecker delivered a two-run single and DH Brandon Garcia poked a single through the right side for two more runs. Carvutto came in to pitch and LF Alex Glenn greeted him with a two-run homer over the right field wall as USC pulled within 10-8 before Carvutto closed the door.

In the ninth, USC threatened, as PH Kevin Swick drove in a run with one out. Torchio made a diving stop on a bid for a hit by Matt Foat, driving to his left, then turning back to get the lead runner at second base. Carvutto then punched out 2B Shane Boras to end the ballgame.

Carvutto earns his first save of the season, while RHP Marcus Pointer (Pacifica, Calif.) picked up his first win, throwing six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits with a pair of strikeouts.

The Tigers wrap the series in game two of a doubleheader at approximately 6:35.