Photos

STOCKTON, Calif. – In their home opener, the Pacific Tigers shutout the Cal Poly Mustangs 2-0.  Shelby Lackey, Jordon Gonzalez, and Vince Arobio combined for nine innings of shutout work that included just five Cal Poly hits.  Pacific is now 2-2, while Cal Poly falls to 1-4.

Lackey set new career highs in strikeouts and innings, going six scoreless while striking out nine Mustangs.  Lackey allowed just four hits and six total baserunners before ceding the mound to Gonzalez.

"He's still somewhat new to pitching," said Head Coach Mike Neu about Lackey.  "We just need to get him comfortable in game situations and that's what we're working on...Tonight he had some big pitches."

Arobio would pick up the save with two scoreless innings for his first save of the season. 

The Mustangs started Erich Uelman, who left with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the eighth.  The junior struck out ten in his 7.2 innings while giving up just one earned run but took the loss, his first of the year.

Lackey struck out two in the first inning and only continued that dominance throughout the game, tripling his previous career high in strikeouts in his six innings.  Just three batters reached scoring position all game against Lackey.

The scoreless pitcher's duel was finally broken up by the Tigers in the fifth inning.  Ryan Schalch and Blake Barry drew walks, moving into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt.  It was freshman Kyle Soberano who would drive in Schalch for his first career RBI to make it 1-0.

Cal Poly loaded the bases in the eighth inning with two outs.  Arobio got exactly what he needed, forcing an easy liner to Tarantino that was caught just inches above the dirt to end the inning and keep Pacific's lead in place.

Pacific got their insurance run in the eighth on a rally that started with Matt Tarantino's infield single.  Two walks followed before Schlach drew a catcher's interference call to push a run home and pick up his second RBI of the year. 

Arobio threw a scoreless ninth to seal the win for Pacific, getting the strikeout to end the game.

STAT NOTES

• Shelby Lackey's previous career high in strikeouts before his nine today was three.  His previous career high in innings was five, set in the season opener this year.
• The last Tiger to have at least nine strikeouts was Ricky Reynoso, who punched out nine against USF on March 25, 2016.
• Kevin Sandri had Pacific's first stolen base of the year, swiping second in the bottom of the sixth inning.  Sandri was second on the team with 5 SB last year.
• Gonzalez now has 14 consecutive appearances without an earned run.  He has struck out eight over his last 6.2 innings of shutout work.
• Arobio went two innings, giving him four multi-innings outings in his last six appearances.
• The last shutout by the Tigers came 4/15/16 at Portland, when Will Lydon led the Tigers to a 3-0 victory.

Pacific faces off with Cal Poly twice more this week, scheduled for 2:00 pm Saturday and 1:00 pm Sunday, barring rain.  Tickets for those games are available online. 

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