Pacific 6, Nevada 5
Monday, March 27, 2023
Reno, Nev. - Don Weir Field at Peccole Park

WP - Owen McWilliam (2-1)
LP - Alejandro Murillo (1-1)
SV - Ryan Martinez (1)

RENO, Nev. - Nevada pulled to within a run of Pacific in the bottom of the ninth, but came up just short Monday, falling to the Tigers, 6-5, at Don Weir Field and Peccole Park.

Trailing 6-3, Nevada (11-13) got a solo homer from Taylor Holder leading off the ninth to make it a 6-4 ballgame. With two outs, Henry Strmecki and Matt Clayton hit back-to-back doubles to get the Pack within 6-5, and Nolan Wilson was hit by a pitch to put the winning run at first. But Pacific reliever Ryan Martinez got Jesse Pierce to pop up to second to end the contest.

Nevada found itself in the three-run hole after Pacific scored six straight to overcome the Pack's early 3-0 lead. Pacific's four-run sixth inning did the bulk of the damage, capitalizing on starter Casey Burfield's exit.

Burfield held the Tigers (8-14) hitless over the first four innings, and gave up just a run on one hit with four strikeouts over five innings. Alejandro Murillo started the sixth for the Pack, but left with the bases loaded after giving up a hit, a walk, and hitting a batter over the three batters he faced. Clayton Ray came on, but walked Andrew Guidara to force in a run and cut the Pack's lead to 3-2.

Dillon Holliday stepped in and struck out Andrew Sloan for the first out, then got a groundball to third from John Howard Otis. Pierce fired home to force out Chaz Myers, but Clayton's throw from home to first caromed into foul territory, allowing Jack Metcho to score the tying run. Tony Otis then lined a two-run single to center to make it 5-3 Tigers.

Holder was one of three Wolf Pack players with two hits in the game, going 2-for-3 with three RBIs. He started the scoring with an RBI double in the second, then added a sacrifice fly in the fourth, scoring Pierce to make it 2-0. Jaxon Woodhouse would score Nevada's third run on a fielder's choice from Jeff Bauser.

The Pack forced Pacific starter Jake Tandy out during that fourth inning, as Tandy was charged with all three runs on four hits over three innings of work. But reliver Owen McWilliam, who gave up the sacrifice fly and fielder's choice that plated runs, closed the inning and went a scoreless fifth to pick up his second win of the season.

Murillo took his first loss of the season for Nevada, being charged with three runs on one hit and a walk in the sixth.

Nevada closes its seven-game homestand this weekend, hosting San José State for a three-game series beginning with Friday's 6:35 p.m. opener.