Nelson's Single Beats UOP

Friday, April 27

Stockton, Calif.

2:00 PM

Long Beach State University

25-12, 0

Pacific

10-32-1, 0

Long Beach State

Pacific

4/27/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Nelson Leads Beach to Series Opening Win
Beach Come Back in Eighth to Win

April 27, 2007

BOX SCORE

STOCKTON, CA-- Chris Nelson hit a two-run go-ahead single with one out in the top of the eighth to lead No. 26-ranked Long Beach State (25-14, 5-2 Big West) to an 8-6 comeback over host Pacific (10-32-1, 0-10 Big West) on a warm Friday afternoon.

Bryan Shaw got his eighth save of the year, getting the final four outs, but not before sending the winning run to the plate in the ninth, after getting Joe Oliveria to fly out on his first pitch with a runner on second with two outs in the eighth in relief of David Roberts.

Roberts, in his first role as the team's setup man, gave up a leadoff single to Matt Fuson to start the eighth, before a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout of pinch-hitter Mike Walker led to Shaw in a 7-6 game. Danny Espinosa's solo home run in the ninth gave LBSU some breathing room, at 8-6, in the top of the ninth. Shaw then hit the leadoff hitter and walked another with one outs, before getting the final two outs.

Adam Wilk (2-0) pitched two shutout innings of relief for the win, tying his career-high, set on Tuesday, with three strikeouts. Shane Peterson extended his hit streak to 15 games with an RBI double in the third, while Robert Perry drove in two runs.

Pacific starter Cole Akins, who had previously gone no longer than two and one-third innings in his two-year career and just 27 innings on the season, retired eight in a row in the middle innings and pitched six-plus innings, giving up five runs on six hits, leaving with a 6-4 lead. He left the bases loaded for the bullpen, as they surrendered one in the seventh and two more off of David Rowse (2-6) in the eighth.

Peterson left after three and one-third innings, giving up five runs (three earned) on six hits, after reaching the fifth inning in each of his last four starts. Andre Lamontagne's two wild pitches in the fifth led to a 6-4 lead for UOP.

The series continues with Andrew Liebel (5-2, 1.95) making his first collegiate start in three seasons at 1 p.m., while Sunday's game with Omar Arif (2-5, 2.96) will also be at 1 p.m.