Stockton, Calif. - A huge night out of the Tigers' biggest bats was not enough to propel the Pacific baseball team to victory over Texas Pan-American (UTPA) as the Broncs won a slugfest, 12-10, on Monday, March 23. The loss for the Tigers (4-18) broke up their two-game winning-streak while UTPA (11-11) snapped a five-game skid with the win.

Finding the power that had alluded him for much of the season, junior Brett Sullivan bombed a pair of home runs over his first two at bats to set up the Tigers offensively on the night. However, Sullivan's fireworks were not enough as the Broncs came up with a season-best 16 hits while tagging the Tigers for 12 runs. 

The bulk of the damage for UTPA came in just two innings as the Broncs sent their entire lineup to the plate in both the second and the seventh frames to account for 11 of their 12 runs scored. In both frames, the Broncs were able to load the bases against Pacific's pitching staff without recording an out. In addition, both big rallies came from the same spot in the order as Pacific struggled to retire UTPA's designated hitter, Manny Loredo, who kick started both trips through the lineup. Loredo would finish having reached base four of the five times he came to the plate as he recorded a pair of singles to go along with a walk and an error.

In both of the big innings for the Broncs, the damage came on a bases clearing double, the first from Logan Landon in the second and then from Jesus Garcia in the seventh. For Garcia, his big hit came after sophomore John Jaeger pitched within one out of getting out of trouble after entering the contest with the bases loaded and no outs in the inning.

With the Broncs coming up with two big innings, Pacific's strong offensive night was nullified despite the best efforts of Sullivan and junior Gio Brusa in the middle of the order. For Sullivan, his night started off with a bang when he blasted a three-run home run to right-center in the bottom of the fourth inning as Pacific batted around itself en route to taking a 4-1 lead. An inning later, Sullivan came up with his second home run of the evening, sending a 1-2 pitch over the wall in right for his first career two-home run contest. The two bombs by Sullivan moved his season total to four while bumping his RBI total to a team-best 13. Sullivan's power display came while playing the toughest position as the junior caught his first game as a Tiger, setting up behind the plate for the 3+ hour contest.

Hitting behind Sullivan, Brusa had one of his best nights of the year as the third-year outfielder came up with his second four-hit outing of the season. Slapping the ball around the yard, Brusa came up just a home run short of the cycle as he tagged the Broncs pitching staff for two singles, a double, and finally a triple to end his night. The triple set up the Tigers' final score as they plated a single run in the eighth while attempting to rally from behind. Pacific was able to climb within two runs after scoring single runs in the seventh and eighth innings after giving up the lead in the top of the seventh.

The five-run seventh for the Broncs came after a three-run sixth for the Tigers that gave Pacific a one-run lead after trailing since the second.

In total, the Tigers came up with 14 hits in the game as freshman Nate Verlin joined the Tigers' big hitters with his own three-hit game. On the other side, Cole Loncar went 3-for-6 while the Broncs' best hitter, Landon, finished 3-for-4 with four RBIs and two intentional walks.

The loss for the Tigers went to freshman Justin Giovannoni (0-1) as he suffered his first defeat while pitching 2.0 IP out of the pen. Giovanonni was tagged for three runs and three hits as he departed in the seventh with the bases loaded and had to watch all three of his runners come in to score in the inning. Starter Jordon Gonzalez picked up the no-decision as he went 1.0 IP while giving up four hits and four runs, three coming after exiting the game in the second with the bases loaded.

UTPA's Matt Rigby (2-1) earned the win out of the pen as he threw 2.0 IP while giving up five hits and two runs. Andrew Padron (7) grabbed the save with 1.2 IP of scoreless relief. Starter Parker Gallegos was taken off the hook by his offense after throwing 4.0 IP while giving up six hits and five runs.

Pacific hits the road for three games at Santa Clara over the weekend as the two teams battle for position in WCC play. The first game from Schott Stadium is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Friday, March 27.