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University of the Pacific

Owen McWilliam Save
1
UNLV UNLV 0-1
2
Winner Pacific PACIFIC 1-0
UNLV UNLV
0-1
1
Final
2
Pacific PACIFIC
1-0
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
UNLV UNLV 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 9 0
Pacific PACIFIC 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 X 2 7 0

W: Shaver, Ethan (1-0) L: Cates,Austin (0-1) S: McWilliam, Owen (1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Pacific Wins Pitching Duel on Opening Night

STOCKTON, Calif. – It was a battle of aces on opening night of the 2024 season as the Pacific baseball team defeated UNLV, 2-1, Friday at Klein Family Field.
 
Behind five solid innings from junior Ethan Shaver and a key two-run fifth inning, the Tigers (1-0) earned their first victory of the season, marking eight straight home openers with a win, going back to the 2017 season.
 
"It was one of those old-fashioned games," Pacific head coach Chris Rodriguez said. "2-1 games do not happen that often in college baseball. The team was ready to go. Shaver was outstanding on the mound. No errors. Timely hitting. It was definitely a fun game."
 
Shaver turned in an impressive Tiger debut, throwing five innings, allowing just one run on seven hits and two walks while striking out four Rebel hitters. Junior Owen McWilliam came on in relief of Shaver and was dialed in, earning his first save of the season with two strikeouts across four scoreless innings.
 
Six different Tigers recorded hits on the evening, including a pair of singles by freshman Gabe Camacho.
 
After two scoreless innings, UNLV got on the board first with a solo home run from lead-off hitter Ryan Charles to lead 1-0.
 
Shaver and Rebels starter Austin Cates traded effective frames, combining for ten strikeouts through the first five innings.
 
The Tigers broke through offensively in the bottom of the fifth inning with a two-out rally. After senior Chase Graves drew a walk, sophomore Jack Metcho drove him in with a double to deep center field, knocking in Pacific's first run of the season and leveling the score, 1-1. Sophomore Kaden Petersen followed with a single to right field, bringing in Metcho and giving the Tigers the 2-1 edge.
 
McWilliam did not face much danger in the late stages of the ball game. However, with the tying run on third base with two outs in the ninth inning, McWilliam shut the door, forcing the final UNLV hitter to ground out to shortstop to end the night.
 
The Tigers return to action tomorrow at 3 pm in game two of the three-game series against UNLV.
 
For all the latest news on the Tigers, be sure to visit www.pacifictigers.com and follow us on X (@PacificTigers), Instagram (@PacificTigers) and like the department's official Facebook page (Pacific Athletics).
  
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