STOCKTON, Calif. – The Pacific Tigers touched up Thomas Ponticelli for four runs in the first inning and never looked back in handing the Dons a 9-5 loss in the series opener on Friday evening from Klein Family Field.
Ponticelli (4-2) had gone the previous 16 innings without allowing a run, but Pacific (18-32, 6-19 WCC) wasted no time in snapping that streak as the first batter of the game, Kevin Sandri, reached base on a fielding error by Allen Smoot, setting the tone for the inning. Sandri came around to score two batters later on James Free's RBI double, which was followed by a Ryan Schalch RBI double and a two-run home run by Danny Mayer.