FRESNO, Calif. – Making their second trip to Bob Bennett Stadium in three weeks, the Pacific baseball team (8-17, 0-9) snapped their ten-game losing streak with a thrilling 14-10 win over Fresno State (7-14, 4-8) on Wednesday afternoon.
 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

• Getting the offense rolling early, seniors Charles Middleton and Alex LeForestier notched back-to-back singles to begin the contest before classmate Joe Fitzhugh lined his first hit of the contest through the left side to give the Tigers the early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Shortly thereafter, Fresno State responded to tie the game at one on a home run from third baseman Andrew Kachel in the home half of the inning.
• Taking advantage of each opportunity, Pacific jumped back on top, 2-1, when sophomore Aidan Selfridge raced home on a wild pitch in the top of the second. However, the Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs on two hits and one Tiger error to hold a 4-2 advantage through three innings complete.
• In the top of the fifth, Pacific enjoyed one of their most successful innings of the season when they erupted for eight runs on seven hits and one Fresno State error to regain their lead. Overall, 14 batters came to the plate in the inning as the Tigers remained on top of the Bulldogs after the fifth, 10-4.
• Continuing the onslaught, senior Hunter Schilperoort laced a double down the left field line to score Luke Price in the top of the sixth, pushing the score to 11-4 in favor of UOP. Following a pinch-hit two-run home run from Mason Grotto to trim the Tiger lead to 11-6 in the bottom of the inning, the Tigers added another another insurance run to begin the seventh as LeForestier came around on a wild pitch to double up the Bulldogs, 12-6.
• Aiming to defend their home field, Fresno State battled late by plating four runs in the home half of the seventh to stay within striking distance, 12-10.
• Although neither team would score in the eighth, Pacific tallied their final runs of the contest in the top of the ninth on the strength of two hits and two walks.
• Keeping things interesting, the Bulldogs loaded the bases against redshirt fifth year student Nick Swanson in their turn at the dish. Ultimately, the right hander would lock down Fresno State in the final inning, allowing only one hit to secure his third save of the season and record the 14-10 win for the Tigers. Overall, it was Pacific's first win since a 3-2 victory over these same Bulldogs in Stockton on Mar. 17.

 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

• As a team, eight of the nine starters for the Tigers notched at least one hit and one RBI in the win on Wednesday. Individually, LeForestier (7) and Gavello (6) each extended their reached base streak while Fitzhugh and junior Ben Nemivant tied their season high with 2 RBI apiece. Pacific also drew a season-high ten walks against the Bulldogs.
• On the mound, junior Jackson Vaughan logged his first official Division I victory and first in the Orange & Black with 1.0 inning of scoreless relief, striking out two along the way.
• For Swanson, the Stockton native now leads the team with three total saves on the year, just two behind his career high of five, which came in 2019.

 
UP NEXT:
After their home series vs. Pepperdine was recently postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, the Tigers will now head to Las Vegas for a three-game road series at UNLV beginning tomorrow, Thursday, Apr. 8. First pitch for game one is set for 2:05 pm PST from Earl E. Watson Stadium and live streaming and live statistics links will be available via pacifictigers.com.
 
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