Feb. 24, 2002

Box Score

Stockton, CA - Pacific turned the tables on Saint Mary's, as a day after the Tigers fell victim to a four-run ninth inning rally in Moraga, they came up with one of their own at home to win by an identical score of 8-7 on Saturday, Feb. 23 at Billy Heber Field. With the win Pacific moved to 4-4, while the Gaels dropped to 3-8 on the season.

After a wild ninth inning rally on Friday, the Gaels were seeking to win in a less stressful fashion. They looked like they were on the way to doing so, when they jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first with three runs in the second, two in the third and two in the fifth.

However, the Tigers started chipping away in the bottom of the sixth when they got three runs to make the score 7-3. Jeff Jodlowski had a single to start the inning and Michael Fitzgerald followed with a double. Aaron Harper drove home both runners with an RBI single. Harper came around and scored on a Tim Gilhooly triple to cut the Gaels lead to four runs.

Pacific added a run when Fitzgerald drove home Joel Summers in the bottom of the seventh to make the score 7-4. In the top of the ninth, the Tigers were in danger of falling behind by more runs when St. Mary's first two runners reached base on a double and an error. With first and second and no one out Harper made a diving play to rob Mark Teahen of a double, stepped on third base and threw to second for the double play. Saint Mary's managed to load the bases with two outs, but its scoring chance was ended when Gilhooly made a diving catch in the right field gap to end the inning for the Tigers.

Octavio Amezquita got the rally started in the bottom of the ninth with a single, followed by a double by Summers. Pinch hitter Cory Lake drove in the first run to make it 7-5 with a bouncing single up the middle. Jodlowski then stepped up and delivered a triple to bring home two runs to tie the game at 7-7. With the infield in, Fitzgerald hit a solid line drive into left field to end the game and give the Tigers a come from behind 8-7 victory.

James Stanford picked up his first career win at Pacific to move to 1-0, and John Guthrie took the loss for St. Mary's in relief. Stanford hurled two and a third shutout innings in relief, allowing three hits and striking out two.

Pacific was led by Fitzgerald who was four for five with one run and two RBI, one of them the game winner. Jodlowksi was two for five with two runs and two RBI, while Harper was two for four with a run and two RBI.

John Engers led the way for Saint Mary's going three for three with two runs and two RBI.