Trailing 6-1, Pacific battles back to within one run, but can't topple No. 2 Cal State Fullerton, falling 8-5

Tigers score four runs in the fourth, ignited by a home run from senior Brandon Gottier

	Senior Brandon Gottier was 2-for-4 with a home run and a double in the loss

April 15, 2005

Box Score

FULLERTON, Calif. - Trailing 6-1 heading into the top of the fourth inning, the Pacific Tigers baseball team pulled within one run but could not overtake No. 2 Cal State Fullerton, falling 8-5 in the series opener with the Titans on Apr. 15. The loss dropped the Tigers to 17-19 on the season and 3-4 in Big West Conference play, while Cal State Fullerton moved to 24-9 overall and 6-1 in conference.

After Cal State Fullerton took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, Pacific got on the board in the top of the second as senior Brandon Gottier (Bellingham, Wash.) led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Junior Will Brindza (Sherwood, Ore) followed by reaching on an error, moving Gottier to third. Junior Ryan Wilmer (San Mateo, Calif.) walked to load the bases with no outs. One out later, junior Dale Hall (Wenatchee, Wash.) was hit by a pitch to force in Gottier, cutting Cal State Fullerton's lead to 2-1.

The Titans added four runs on three hits and a Pacific error in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 lead, but Pacific had an answer in the top of the fourth.

Gottier once again got Pacific off to a good start as he lifted the first pitch of the inning over the left field wall for his first home run of the year. Two outs later, senior Jesse Kovacs (Carmel, Calif.) started a three run rally with a single to left field. Hall drew a walk to put runners at first and second, then freshman Adam Ching (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) ripped a double into left field, scoring both Kovacs and Hall to make it a 6-4 game. After a walk to junior Matt Berezay (Manteca, Calif.) put runners at first and second again, junior Jerin Harper (Spokane, Wash.) laced a single into center field to bring home Ching, pulling Pacific within a run at 6-5.

That was all the scoring that either team would manage until the eighth inning as both Pacific starter junior Luke Massetti (Modesto, Calif.) and Cal State Fullerton's Ricky Romero regained their form. Massetti, who allowed six runs (three earned) on seven hits in seven innings, retired the final 10 batters he faced. Romero (7-3) went the distance for the Titans as he surrendered five runs (four earned) on six hits, with nine strikeouts in nine innings. Massetti fell to 4-5 on the season with the loss.

Cal State Fullerton's final two runs came in the eighth inning.

The Tigers and Titans resume their three-game series on Saturday, Apr. 16 at 6 p.m. at Goodwin Field in Fullerton, Calif.