The Nevada Wolf Pack is finding new ways to win baseball games.
The Wolf Pack outlasted the Pacific Tigers, 11-9, Tuesday night in Stockton, Calif., for their fourth consecutive victory. The difference in the game was a two-run pinch-hit double by seldom-used outfielder Tommy Niebergall in the top of the eighth inning that gave the Pack an 11-8 lead.
The hit broke an 0-for-22 slump by Niebergall that dated back to April 22, 2012. Niebergall, a junior, went hitless in his last 18 at-bats in 2012 and his first four at-bats this season. His last hit was a double in the seventh inning last April 22 in a 9-1 victory at Sacramento State.
Niebergall, pinch-hitting for Joe Setum, brought home freshman Shaun Mize and junior Scott Kaplan in the eighth inning. Kaplan walked with two outs and stole second to get the rally started and Mize followed with another walk.
Six Pacific pitchers combined to issue eight walks -- four with the bases loaded -- as the Tigers fell to 4-7 on the season. The Wolf Pack improved to 9-4.
The Pack took a 5-1 lead with five runs in the second inning and, again, wildness cost the Tigers. Setum, Jamison Rowe and Jay Anderson all walked with the bases loaded in the inning to force home three runs. Brooks Klein, who had three hits, also had a RBI single and Austin Byler brought home a run with a ground out.
Pacific, though, came right back with two runs in the third off Pack starter Barry Timko and five in the fourth off reliever Daniel Levine to take an 8-5 lead. Timko allowed three runs on six hits and two walks in two innings and Levine allowed five runs on five hits and a walk in 1.2 innings.
The Wolf Pack scored four runs in the sixth to take a 9-8 lead. Kyle Hunt doubles to start the inning and Setum followed with a single. Rowe then brought home Mize, who was pinch-running for Hunt, with a single with the first run of the inning. Anderson scored Setum with a sacrifice fly. Brett Jones later had a RBI single in the inning and Hug Hernandez walked with the bases loaded to give the Pack a 9-8 lead.
The Wolf Pack also used six pitchers. Colby Blueberg gave the Pack 2.2 scoreless innings of relief and was credited with his first victory of the year. Michael Fain got the last four outs -- including a perfect bottom of the ninth inning -- to record his fourth save of the year.
Jones, Hunt and Setum each had two hits to complement Klein's three-hit performance. The Pack had 12 hits while Pacific had 16.
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