Stockton, Calif. - Despite an epic comeback that saw the Tigers battle back from down seven runs, the Pacific baseball team fell just short of rallying on Saturday, Mar. 22 as they fell 10-7 to Gonzaga at Klein Family Field. The loss was the first of the season for the Tigers against the Bulldogs as Pacific fell to 11-14 overall and 3-2 in WCC play while the Bulldogs improved to 8-13 on the year and 4-1 in conference play.

Losing command of the zone in the second, the Tigers helped the Zags put eight runs on the board which would prove to be too much to overcome in the end. In the inning, Pacific's pitchers issued six-straight walks to the Bulldogs and gave up four hits as the Bulldogs batted around to grab an early seven-run lead. In all, the Zags sent 13 Bulldogs to the plate in the inning with Caleb Wood delivering a pair of singles in the inning for a run and an RBI. Wood's leadoff single started the rally off for the Zags while eventually coming into score on a bases loaded walk.

Despite the big hole dug in the second, the Tigers continued their push at the plate as they cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third with three runs of their own. Leading off the inning with a double down the left field line, sophomore J.J. Wagner came into score the first run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by junior Tyler Sullivan. Wagner had moved to third on a error in the field which came back to hurt the Zags when sophomore Brett Sullivan lifted a 1-1 pitch over the right field wall for a two-run home run. The home run was his second of the weekend and third of the season.

Two innings later the Tigers took another chunk out of the Zags lead with two more runs, cutting the lead to just 8-6. A single by junior Jimmy Gosano started things off while an error gave the Tigers a free runner and out to work with. From there, Pacific would tack on their first run on a sacrifice fly before notching a second run on an infield single by  B. Sullivan. B. Sullivan was able to beat out a slow chop to first which allowed T. Sullivan to score from third after the junior had reached on the error and moved around the bases on a stolen base and balk.

Pacific would tack on a seventh run in the bottom of the eighth inning when B. Sullivan again legged out an infield hit to start the inning. He would come all the way around to score on a double into the left center gap by sophomore J.P. Yakel to cut the deficit to just one run. Pacific would get Yakel to third in the inning, but leave the tying run 90 feet from pay dirt.
The missed chance to tie the game hurt as the Bulldogs took the momentum into the ninth where they added a pair of runs on three-consecutive hits to put the Tigers away for good.

Senior John Haberman (3-1) suffered his first loss of the season lasting just 1.1 innings while giving up two hits and six runs while walking four. In relief, sophomore Jake Jenks went 7.0 innings and threw 117 pitches as he gave the Tigers six scoreless innings of relief before giving up the final two runs of the game in the ninth. In all he he gave up eight hits and four runs while walking four and striking out three.

Offensively, B. Sullivan stayed scorching hot as the sophomore finished 3-for-4 with a home run and four RBI. The four RBI marked the second-straight game the Tiger shortstop drove in four runs while he also added a pair of runs scored.

The Zags were led Caleb Wood who finished with a 3-for-4 showing that included an RBI and a run scored. Brandon Bailey (2-3) picked up the win with 6.0 innings of work as he gave up six hits and six runs. Sean-Luke Brija (2) earned the save as he stranded the tying run at third in the eighth while going 1.2 innings out of the pen.

The two teams will play the rubber game of their three-game conference series on Sunday, Mar. 23 as they meet at 1:00 pm at Klein Family Field.