Stockton, Calif. – The Pacific Tigers blanked the Portland Pilots 3-0 behind Will Lydon's exquisite pitching for their fifth WCC win of the season Friday night.  It was the third win in a row for the Tigers.  The last time Pacific shutout an opponent was May 15, 2015.  That win also came against Portland as the Tigers won 2-0.  Pacific is now 13-18 this year and 5-8 in the WCC.  It was the fourth road win this year for Pacific and second in a row.  Portland falls to 13-20 overall and 1-9 in the WCC.

Lydon put up another incredible day on the mound with his fourth performance of seven or more innings and his first career shutout.  Lydon also struck out six men, the sixth time in his nine starts he has struck out at least five.  It was the second time this year and third time in his career that Lydon has tossed a complete game.  It was Lydon's first win of the year.

Jordan Horak pitched 4.1 innings for the Tigers and left with the deficit thanks to the Tigers striking for three in the second.  Horak struck out two and allowed nine baserunners in the start.  Horak took the loss, falling to 1-4.

It was Gio Brusa, hitting .455 over his last eleven games, who had the first hit of the game for the Tigers.  Brusa beat out an infield hit deep in the hole on the left side, where the shortstop fielded the ball on the grass but couldn't do anything with it.  J.J. Wagner kept up his hot streak with a single up the middle to put the pressure on with no outs in the second. 

Lucas Halstead knocked in his third RBI in the last four games to give Pacific the early lead with a single that drove Brusa in from second.  The baserunners advanced on a picturesque sacrifice bunt by Louis Mejia.

The bunt paid off, as Blake Barry's infield hit made the lead 2-0 after that.  The shortstop once again fielded the ball too deep to make a throw but was able to prevent the Tigers from scoring two on the single.  It was the second consecutive at-bat in which Barry has driven in a run.

J.P. Yakel hit the ball just right to extend the lead.  The senior sent a chopper high into the center of the infield where it was fielded by the pitcher.  There was no time to throw anywhere but first, making it 3-0.  Kevin Sandri walked after that to pick up his seventh free pass in WCC play, a total he would add on to in the fourth to move to a tie for third in the conference with eight WCC walks.

Barry's defensive chops were on display in the fourth inning.  Barry dropped back on the run on a blast by Portland to center.  The junior tracked the ball well and reached high above his head to make the catch on what looked to be a sure double.

The Tigers chased Portland's Horak in the fourth with a Danny Mayer single and a Brusa walk.  Wagner also walked in the inning to put men on first and second for Halstead with one out after Mayer was caught stealing.  Halstead beat out a grounder for a fielder's choice, leaving men on the corners.  Unfortunately, Pacific couldn't widen their lead as Mejia just barely missed beating out an infield single.

A walk and a HBP started the sixth for the Tigers as Barry and Yakel reached base once again.  Unfortunately, three flyouts followed, none of which were quite deep enough to advance the runners.

Lydon didn't need the insurance runs, however, as he continued to roll.  The junior righty retired eight straight starting in the third before a single off the glove in the sixth.  It was just the third hit allowed by Lydon.

The eighth inning looked to be getting rocky for Lydon as the first two batters singled.  Portland brought up a pinch-hitter looking to score their first run.  Lydon kept his composure and killed the rally with ease, striking out the batter swinging before Yakel gunned down his second base stealer of the game for a double play.  Lydon followed that up with his fifth strikeout of the game to end the inning.

The junior ended the game looking even better than he started.  Lydon struck out three men in a row over the eighth and ninth.  He allowed an infield single in the ninth but nothing else to get his second complete game this year.

The next game in the Portland series will be Saturday at 6:00 pm.  The series will wrap up on Sunday at 11:00 am.

Make sure to follow Pacific baseball on Twitter with the username @PacificBaseball and on Instagram at pacificbaseball.