April 3, 2011

Box Score

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STOCKTON, Calif. - Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth, the Pacific Tigers rallied for three runs, capped by a game-winning single from junior CF Brett Christopher for a 5-4 walk-off win over Long Beach State Sunday afternoon at Klein Family Field.

Sophomore John Haberman (Stockton, Calif.) opened the ninth with a pinch-hit single to right, and freshman 2B Curtis Gomez (Watsonville, Calif.) followed with a one-out single to through the left side. Senior 1B Brian Martin (Livermore, Calif.) then stroked a first-pitch double down the right field line to plate junior Josh Simms (La Mesa, Calif.), who had pinch run for Haberman. Gomez held at third and after Long Beach State closer Eddie Magallon intentionally walked senior OF/RHP Matt Carvutto (Poway, Calif.) to load the bases, junior RF Allen Riley (Fresno, Calif.) tied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to center field.

That brought up Christopher (Livermore, Calif.) who ripped a 1-1 pitch inside the first base bag, scoring Martin from second for the Tigers fourth win of the season in their final at-bat. Pacific improves to 8-16 overall, 1-2 in the Big West.

Carvutto (1-0) picked up the win in relief of Tigers starter RHP Jake Hummel (Peoria, Ariz.). The 6-3 senior pitched into the eighth for the fourth time in seven starters, allowing four earned runs on 10 hits.

Long Beach (14-12, 2-1 Big West) took a 1-0 lead in the third, as right fielder Juan Avila tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly from CF Brennan Metzger.

The Tigers answered with a run in their half of the third as sophomore 2B Tyger Pederson (Palo Alto, Calif.) walked with one out and stole second base. Martin delivered a two-out single to right field to knot the game at 1-1.

In the fourth, Hummel retired the first two batters, but 49ers' DH Brent Tani lined a solo home run down the right field line to put Long Beach back on top, 2-1. Avila followed three pitches later with a solo shot of his own, to right field as the 49ers carried a 3-1 lead after three and a half innings.

Pacific answered in their half of the fourth, as junior DH Daniel Johnston (Portola Valley, Calif.) doubled with one out and advanced to third on a single by sophomore 3B Dustin Torchio (Santa Cruz, Calif.). After junior C Aaron Hassel (Tarzana, Calif.) was hit by a pitch, Pederson cut the deficit to 3-2 with an RBI groundout before Long Beach starter RHP Shawn Stuart escaped by coaxing a pop out to end the inning.

Stuart lasted six and two-thirds, allowing two earned runs on nine hits while striking out six. Martin singled with two out in the seventh, and Carvutto followed with a double to chase Stuart, but RHP Kyle Friedrichs escaped the jam after being summoned from the bullpen as Long Beach maintained their 3-1 lead.

Hummel took the hill in the ninth, aiming for his second-straight complete game, but after Avila led off the top of the ninth with a first-pitch solo home run to left, Hummel departed as Carvutto took the mound and avoided further damage to set up Pacific's three-run ninth inning off Long Beach State closer Eddie Magallon (2-1).

After allowing one home run all season in his first 50.2 innings pitched, Hummel was touched for three solo home runs in the ball game.

Avila finished four-for-four on the day for Long Beach with two home runs and a triple. The 49ers entered with one home run on the season through their first 25 games.

Every slot in the Tigers order had a hit on the day, led by Martin's three-for-five day at the plate with a pair of runs batted in. Christopher finished one-for-two with the game-winning RBI after entering as a defensive replacement in center in the seventh. Torchio and Carvutto each finished two-for four, while Riley and Pederson were each one-for-four with an RBI, with Pederson adding a run scored.

Christopher joins Martin and Carvutto on the list of Tigers with walk-off hits at home this season. Gomez also provided a game-winning home run in the Tigers final at-bat, blasting an eighth-inning three-run home run last Sunday to give Hummel a 3-0 win over San Francisco.

Pacific hits the road for five-straight games, beginning Tuesday at Cal in a 2:30 p.m. matinee. The Tigers then visit UC Riverside for a three-game Big West series starting Friday. Pacific faces Stanford on Tuesday, April 12, before returning home for a Big West series against UC Irvine April 15-17