STOCKTON, Calif. – Pacific (10-24) hosted Fresno State (18-17) in an extra-innings affair Tuesday evening. The Tigers took an early lead, but the Bulldogs roared back, scoring six in the fifth and once in the tenth to take an 8-7 win.
The guys played well, and we jumped out well, but you cannot give up six (runs) in an inning and expect to win," said Head Coach
Chris Rodriguez. "That is a tough road, and you must find some way to minimize it.
This was the second match featuring these two teams this season, with Fresno State taking the first game earlier this year 5-4. Five of the past six contests between the two teams have been decided by one run.
Juniors
Chaz Myers,
Chase Graves and
Jacob Weiss all collected two hits. Weiss drove in two runs and scored once. Graves scored two runs and walked twice. The top six hitters in the Tigers' lineup scored at least one run.
Sophomore
Caden Duke started the game and pitched 4.1 innings with three strikeouts and six runs allowed. Senior
Marvcus Guarin pitched the final three innings, allowing just one run on one hit while striking out five.
Weiss started the scoring, hitting a two-RBI double down the right-field line and advancing to third on a throwing error. Graves followed that up with an RBI single through the right side. Freshman
Kaden Petersen capped off the scoring by forcing a second error to bring Graves home and putting the Tigers up 4-0 before most fans had reached their seats.
The Bulldogs got on the board in the top of the second with a single to center field, but the Tigers responded right back in the bottom of the third. Freshman
Rylan Evans drove in a run on a groundout, and another Bulldog error brought in the Tigers' sixth run.
Fresno State scored six in the top of the fifth to take its first lead, forcing the Tigers to go to the bullpen. A passed ball from the Bulldogs in the sixth inning scored freshman
Jack Metcho and tied the game up at seven.
The Tigers threatened in the bottom of the ninth with two runners on and one out but could not bring in the go-ahead run.
The Bulldogs scored on a single in the tenth to take the win.
Pacific is back in WCC action this weekend, hosting Pepperdine in a three-game series. Friday night's game will be accompanied by fireworks sponsored by Amy Scriven, D.D.S after the game.
