STOCKTON, Calif. – Behind a five-run sixth-inning rally and a clutch, go-ahead RBI double by sophomore Jake Tandy, the Pacific baseball team completed the comeback to earn a 7-6 victory over North Dakota State on Friday night at Klein Family Field.
 
The Tigers improve to 2-3 on the season while the Bison fall to 0-5 on the season.
 
The heart of the Tigers' lineup combined five hits, five runs and three RBIs, including Tandy's two-out run-scoring double in the bottom of the seventh inning that proved to be the game-winning run.
 
"As a team, it took one at-bat at a time," Tandy said. "In the sixth inning, the train kept moving. I got a great opportunity in my last at-bat. I stayed composed and hit the fastball hard. I'm happy we got the win."
 
While junior starter Ethan Shaver pitched effectively through 5.0 innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out five Bison batters, it was sophomore Ryan Martinez who earned the winning decision, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings to shut down NDSU in the late stages of the contest.
 
The Tigers jumped out in front in the bottom of the second inning when Rylan Evans roped an RBI double down the left field line, scoring Tandy for the game's first run.
 
The Bison responded with two runs in the next frame as the visitors scored two runs on three hits to take a 2-1 lead in the third inning.
 
Both starting pitchers settled down thereafter until the sixth inning when the floodgates opened. NDSU added to its lead with a four-run top of the sixth inning.
 
However, the Tigers wouldn't go away quietly.
 
Pacific strung together its largest run-production inning of the season, leveling the contest with a five-run bottom of the sixth inning that featured a key two-run single by freshman Gabe Camacho to extend the rally. The game stood tied at 6-6.
 
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Tigers used a two-out rally as Tandy took advantage of a fastball, lasering one down the left field line to give the Tigers a 7-6 lead.
 
Martinez would finish the job out of the bullpen, escaping danger in the ninth inning to secure Pacific's victory in the series opener.
 
The Tigers return to action at 2 pm on Saturday against North Dakota State.
 
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