STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific baseball program prepares to face its second consecutive team from the Beehive State to start the 2026 season, welcoming Utah Tech for a three-game series, beginning on Thursday at 6 p.m. from Klein Family Field.

The Tigers (2-2) enter their second non-conference series of the year following a season-opening split against Utah Valley, looking to build on their two-game winning streak into Thursday's opener against the Trailblazers (4-0).

Through four contests, redshirt sophomore Robert Orr paces Pacific's offense with a .500 batting average (6-for-12) with three runs. Orr currently ranks among top ten of West Coast Conference hitters in batting average following the opening weekend.

Graduate student Brendan O'Sullivan has been a spark as the lead-off man, hitting .286 with four runs and four RBIs. O'Sullivan also launched the Tigers' first home run of the season in the season opener.

Senior Jake Tandy and redshirt sophomore JT Shank are tied for the team lead in RBIs with five apiece. The Tigers scored 24 runs across their first four games, which sits second among the conference.

On the pitching side, redshirt junior Garret Plata was lights-out in his Pacific debut, throwing four scoreless innings and striking out a career-best ten batters last Friday. Those ten strikeouts mark the most by a Pacific pitcher in an outing since Ricky Reynoso struck out ten California Baptist hitters in a game during the 2019 season. Plata has recorded the most strikeouts by a WCC pitcher through four games this year.

Redshirt junior Zach Todd also showcased his pitching prowess in his first appearance of 2026, striking out nine Wolverine batters in five innings while allowing just one run.

Utah Tech has begun this season with an unblemished mark in 2026, sweeping UC Riverside on the road with 12-5, 4-3, 12-8 and 8-1 victories. The Trailblazers will also play a rain-postponed game from Tuesday to today at Cal State Bakersfield ahead of the three-game series with the Tigers.

Kyle McDaniel has swung a hot bat out of the gate this year, hitting .571 in his first four games with a team-best eight runs and a pair of RBIs.

Ryan Kroepel, a two-way player, was named the Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week. Kroepel recorded two saves in three scoreless innings of work with one strikeout. While also starting every game of the series at third base, Kroepel batted .375 with nine RBIs and five runs.

Pacific and Utah Tech will meet for the first time ever on the diamond in the all-time series history. Against WAC schools last season, the Tigers earned a 2-5 record against Sacramento State and Cal Baptist. The Trailblazers in 2025 had a road record of 6-14.

All three games of the home series will be broadcast live on ESPN+, beginning at 6 p.m. on Thursday, 6 p.m. on Friday and 1 p.m. for Saturday's series finale. Dennis Ackerman will be on the call.

Tigers Tickets
Tickets for upcoming events can be purchased through the PacificTigers.com tickets tab, or by calling the Box Office at 209-946-2474. Groups of 10 or more are eligible for a group discount and exclusive fan experiences.

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