SANTA CLARA, Calif. – A late Pacific rally gave the Tigers (10-17, 3-7) a series-opening 3-1 win over Santa Clara (14-11, 4-6) Friday evening. 

"That was an exciting game to be part of," Head Coach Chris Rodriguez said. "Cooper Lanz did a great job handling some tough situations. Evan Moll and Ryan Martinez were outstanding, holding their composure in the late innings."

"Our offense kept supply pressure all night, and we took advantage of their mistakes. I thought overall, our guys handle themselves well tonight."

Graduate Ben Nemivant added two more hits to his team-leading number tonight. Graduate Jeremy Lea and freshman Rylan Evans both drove in runs, and Evans walked three times. The bottom three hitters in the Pacific lineup all picked up hits. 

Freshman Cooper Lanz got the start and pitched 6.0 innings of one-run baseball, working around ten hits with two strikeouts while picking up his first career win. Freshman Ryan Martinez pitched the ninth inning, securing his second career save. 

A single from freshman Peyton Miller got the first inning started, with Lea driving him in two batters later to put Pacific up early. Santa Clara answered in the bottom of the second, scoring one run on four hits thanks to two outfield assists by the Tigers. 

A classic pitchers' duel for most of the middle innings, both teams were held scoreless until the seventh inning. With two walks and a hit, the bases were loaded for Evans, who worked a five-pitch walk and brought in the game's second run. 

The Tigers scored an insurance run in the eighth, with two hits and an intentional walk to Nemivant loading the bases again for the Tigers. However, the Pacific bats would not bring in the third run, as the Santa Clara pitcher balked to bring in the run. 

The two teams square off again tomorrow night. The first pitch will be at 6 p.m.