RIVERSIDE--- California Baptist suffered heartbreak on Saturday evening after extra innings at Totman Stadium saw the University of the Pacific win 9-7. Despite the Lancers coming out of the gates hot, the Tigers strung two late innings of strong offense to secure their 14th win of the season. CBU moves to 19-16 on the season, while UOP is now 14-22.
The Tigers ripped one off the bat in the top of the first inning for a 1-0 lead that they would not hold again until the last third of the game. CBU strung together six hits in the top of the first and brought in five runs for a solid lead, highlighted by a Nicholas Dumesnil RBI double. The Lancers doubled down on their lead with a lone insurance run in the bottom of the third via a Chris Ramirez sac fly, but the Tigers knocked their second solo shot of the day in the top of the fifth to begin working on the home squad's lead.
The top of the seventh saw two more runs come in, but the real damage was done in the top of the ninth after a Tiger bombed a three-run home run for a 7-6 lead. CBU did not go quietly, and a two-out triple from Matt Chavez allowed Ramirez to tie the game with an RBI clutch single, forcing a tenth inning. The Lancers could not keep the momentum going into the tenth and gave up a pair of runs on two outs before a three-up three-down bottom of the 10th to finish the day.
Ryan Kittredge posted another quality start for the Lancers, tossing six innings with no free passes. The majority of his earned runs came in by way of David Vizcaino, who inherited two on in the top of the seventh. On the offensive side of the plate, Ramirez went three-for-three with four RBI.
CBU will welcome the Tigers back on Sunday for a rubber match at noon to close out the nonconference weekend series.
