Stockton, Calif. - Despite outhitting the Huskies (1-0)  throughout the night, the Pacific baseball team could not come up with the runs needed to take home a win on opening night as the Tigers (0-1)  fell 5-2 on Friday, Feb. 13. In all, the Tigers came up with 10 hits to Washington's seven, but the Huskies took advantage of a handful of mistakes to put the needed runs on the board for the victory. 

Throughout the night, the Tigers had their chances to come up with runs against the Huskies' pitching staff as Pacific put runners in scoring position in five of the nine innings of play, only to fall short of breaking through. The big issue for the Tigers were missed opportunities as Pacific hit into four inning-killing double plays that killed any momentum Pacific hoped to obtain. 

The lone scoring rally for the Tigers came in the bottom of the sixth when an error by the Huskies put the leadoff runner on base. After a double by junior J.P. Yakel put runners in scoring position, the Tigers picked up a pair of runs from a single off the bat of junior J.J. Wagner and a sacrifice fly from freshman Nate Verlin. The duo of Wagner and Verlin were the hot hitters for the Tigers as the pair recorded half of Pacific's hits as Wagner finished his night 3-for-3 while Verlin debuted with a solid 2-for-3 effort. 

Unfortunately for the Tigers, the two runs came too late as Pacific was already trailing by five runs in the game. The Huskies took control of the contest midway through the night when Alex Schmidt sent a solo shot to right in the fourth to start the scoring. An inning later, the Huskies scored a run without the benefit of a hit as a walk and a pair of wild pitches plated the second run of the contest. In addition, the wild pitches ended sophomore starter Will Lydon's (0-1) night as he was replaced by senior Michael Hager after 90 pitches.

Hager would give up the final three runs of the night in the top of the sixth when the bottom of the Huskies' order rallied with two outs. Leadoff hitter Braden Bishop made Hager pay with a two-RBI single before a passed ball capped the rally at three runs.

Hager finished the contest for the Tigers having gone 4.1 innings out of the pen. He recorded five strikeouts and walked two while relinquishing four hits and three runs, only two earned. Lydon lasted 4.2 innings in the start as he struck out four but walked three while giving up three hits and two runs.

For the Huskies, Troy Rallings (1-0) grabbed the opening night victory as he went 6.0 innings while scattering eight hits. He would induce three of the night's four double plays during his 76 pitch outing. Brandon Choate (1) claimed the season's first save as he pitched a one-hit ninth after entering in relief of Will Ballowe who threw the seventh and eighth innings for the Huskies. 

The Tigers and Huskies meet up for the second of four games on Saturday, Feb. 14 as the two teams clash at Klein Family Field at 2:00 pm. Pacific is slated to throw their ace Jake Jenkins while the Huskies are slated to counter with their all-american, Tyler Davis.