LA JOLLA, Calif. – In the first-ever meeting between the Tigers and Tritons, the Pacific baseball team put together a spirited effort, but ultimately fell in walk-off fashion to the Tritons, 4-3, in the series opener Friday night at Triton Ballpark.
The Tigers fall to 0-4 on the road and 2-11 overall on the season while the Tritons (10-3) earn their tenth win of the season.
Junior
Ethan Shaver turned in one of his best starts as a Tiger to date, throwing 5.0 innings of one-run ball while striking out three Triton batters. Shaver was in line to get his second win of the season, but the Tritons had other plans, scoring three runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to win, 4-3, in front of a packed crowd.
Sophomore
Kaden Petersen played a role in all three runs scored for the Tigers tonight, driving in two runs with a two-RBI triple and eventually scoring on an error. Sophomore
Jack Metcho extended his on-base streak to a season-long 13 games, going 2-for-4 with a single and a ninth-inning double.
The Tigers got off to a strong start, scoring the game's first runs in the top of third inning. A lead-off double by senior
Jacob Weiss and another Tiger reaching first on a misplayed strikeout brought Petersen's power to the plate. Petersen unloaded with a two-out, two-run triple to deep left field to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. The Pacific left fielder would then score on an error by the UCSD third baseman, extending the lead to 3-0 for the visitors.
Shaver wheeled and dealed, escaping jams in the middle innings. The Tritons were able to get their first run in the bottom of the sixth after loading the bases with no outs. Junior
Owen McWilliam came on in relief during that frame to allow just the one Triton to score, meaning a 3-1 lead for Pacific after six.
The Tigers were able to get the first two outs with ease in the bottom of the ninth, but the next five Tritons all reached safely en route to a game-winning single by a Triton pinch-hitter to snatch a 4-3 victory in walk-off style.
The Tigers return to action at 2 pm tomorrow for game two of the series against the Tritons.
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