SAN FRANCISCO – Behind a season-high 12 runs and a key grand slam by sophomore
Jake Tandy, the Pacific baseball team's bats roared to life, defeating San Francisco, 12-7, on Friday afternoon at Benedetti Diamond.
The Tigers (8-33, 3-10 WCC) scored early and often while the pitching shut down the Dons (17-25, 1-12 WCC) late to secure the series-opening victory.
Tandy led the Tigers at the plate offensively, going 2-for-3 with a towering grand slam during a five-run second inning.
"I got a good barrel on it and carried the ball out of here," Tandy said. "We were seeing the ball deep. We really battled the opposing pitchers well."
Tandy's home run marked the first grand slam by a Tiger since 2021 when senior
Chase Graves hit an inside-the-park grand slam in a 12-4 victory over CSU Bakersfield on March 5, 2021.
Graves collected a three-hit day, scoring twice and driving in a run. Sophomore
Tony Otis went 2-for-4 with a walk, two runs scored and an RBI. Otis extends his run scoring streak to eight consecutive games. Sophomore
Andre Vidal recorded his first three-RBI game of the season, picking up a clutch two-run single late in the contest.
Junior
Ethan Shaver made his 11th start on the year, going 4.0 innings and allowing seven runs on nine hits. Junior
Owen McWilliam pitched sharply in relief, throwing 3.0 scoreless innings and striking out four batters, which credited him with the win.
The Tigers got off to a sizzling start, swinging early in counts and jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. The Dons responded with two runs in the bottom of the frame to cut into Pacific's lead, 3-2.
Capped by Tandy's grand slam to left field, the Tigers erupted for a five-run top of the second inning that propelled the visitors to an 8-2 lead.
The Dons were able to chip away at Pacific's edge, scoring three times in the bottom of the second and two more in the bottom of fourth to make the score, 8-7, in favor of Pacific.
The Tigers picked up two key insurance runs in the top of the fifth inning as Vidal singled home Graves and Tandy to extend their lead to 10-7.
San Francisco threatened to score late in the contest, but the Tigers' defense came up big with some defensive gems, including a throw-out of a runner at home plate by sophomore
Jack Metcho to preserve Pacific's lead.
Putting the cherry on top, the Tigers scored two more in the top of the ninth to secure a season-high in runs in the 12-7 victory.
Up next, Pacific will return to action at 1 p.m. tomorrow, continuing its three-game road series at San Francisco.
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