AP Sports Preview: Pacific Hosts Cal State Bakersfield

STOCKTON, Calif. (Interstat) — Pacific and Cal State Bakersfield, two teams separated by one game in the win column, meet Tuesday night at Klein Family Field in a midweek nonconference matchup with postseason positioning on the line.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Pacific (17-23) enters as the slight favorite, with Interstat’s game simulator projecting a 6-4 win for the Tigers. Cal State Bakersfield (18-24) arrives after a dominant series win at UC Riverside, where the Roadrunners outscored the Highlanders 29-12 over three games, including a 14-1 rout Sunday.

Tuesday’s game features two of the conference’s hottest arms. Pacific right-hander Garret Plata has been nearly untouchable in April. Over his last four starts, Plata has allowed two earned runs across 25 innings — a 0.72 ERA — while striking out 21. His most recent outing was a masterpiece: six hitless innings in an 8-2 win at San Francisco on April 26. He also threw six scoreless frames April 19 against Santa Clara.

Cal State Bakersfield’s Shane McAlinden counters with recent success against Pacific. On April 6, the Roadrunners beat the Tigers 8-1, with McAlinden tossing five scoreless innings, scattering three hits and striking out five. Overall, the right-hander has allowed one earned run over 10.1 innings in his last two starts, including a six-inning, one-run performance April 10 at UC Davis.

Pacific took the only previous meeting this season, winning 8-1 on April 6 in Bakersfield. Since then, the Tigers have split 10 games, while the Roadrunners have gone 5-5.

Both clubs are trying to build momentum. Cal State Bakersfield has won three of its last four, buoyed by a pitching staff that posted a 2.33 ERA in the UC Riverside series. Jacob Gutierrez threw 3.2 scoreless innings of relief Sunday, and Jacob May homered and drove in three runs.

Pacific has won three of its last four, including Sunday’s victory at San Francisco. Jake Tandy drove in three runs in that game, and Braeden Schnabel hit his team-leading seventh home run.

Tuesday’s game could have implications for the teams’ May 12 rematch in Bakersfield. After this game, Pacific hosts Loyola Marymount for a three-game series starting Friday, while Cal State Bakersfield returns home to face UC Santa Barbara.