SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The Pacific baseball program battled to the end, ultimately falling short in a 6-5 defeat against Sacramento State on Friday at John Smith Field.
The Tigers (7-7) were within striking distance in the bottom of the eighth, but the Hornets' (8-5) defense prevailed and shut the door for the decision.
Junior
Rylan Evans turned in his best performance of the season, going 3-for-4 with a key RBI double that gave Pacific life offensively. It was Evans' seventh career game with three or more hits in a contest.
Junior
Jake Tandy and redshirt senior
JT Waldon collected multi-hit performances and each scored a run.
Senior
Ethan Shaver made his first start of the year, going 5.0 innings and allowing four runs. Redshirt sophomore
Carson Revay (1-2) carried the load to the finish line, throwing 3.0 innings and allowed one earned run.
Pacific opened the scoring in the top of the second inning as junior
Kaden Petersen, who scored two runs on the day, rounded the bases on Evans' single and error by the left fielder.
Sacramento State would counter with three runs in the bottom of the frame, presenting a 3-1 lead for the home team.
After one more run in the bottom of the third by the Hornets, the Tigers pounced with a rally, highlighted by Evans' RBI double that brought home a pair of his teammates for a 4-4 score.
Pacific took its second lead of the game in the top of the seventh, however the Hornets capitalized in the bottom of the frame to take a 6-5 edge.
With runners in scoring position in the bottom of the eighth, the Tigers nearly scored again, but a defensive stop at second base by Cameron Sewell sealed the threat, resulting in a final score of 6-5. Pacific is now 2-2 in games decided within a run.
The Tigers return home for game two of the series with the Hornets. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. at Klein Family Field.
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