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.
 
"Ponti wasn't sharp tonight and got hit pretty hard for the first time in about four weeks," head coach Nino Giarratano said. "Unfortunately we didn't make good pitches. It's disappointing because with Ponti out there throwing on a Friday night you feel like you have a chance."
 
Ponticelli, who suffered his first loss since Mar. 31, allowed eight runs (six earned) on 13 hits while striking out five over six innings. His eight runs allowed in the game were more than he's allowed in his last eight outings combined.
 
Smoot shined offensively by going 4-for-4 with a double, a walk and a run scored. Michael Perri went 3-for-5 while driving in a run, and Dan James collected a pair of hits on the night.
 
"Offensively we were pretty good," Giarratano said. "Allen Smoot has had a great year for us. Michael Perri had some nice swings, but we weren't very efficient. We didn't run the bases well tonight. We had a chance to keep it close."
 
The Dons (27-28, 9-16 WCC) got on the board in the top of the third by virtue of two Pacific errors after Matt Sinatro led off the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on poor pickoff throw by Tigers starter Justin Giovannoni. A fielding error by Sandri at second base allowed Nico Giarratano to reach base and eventually help push Sinatro across when Giarratano was caught stealing on a first-and-third situation.
 
Pacific further distance themselves by plating three more runs in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI single by Matt Tarantino and a two-run double by Free that put the Tigers up 7-1.
 
USF tried to chip away with two runs each in the seventh and eighth innings. Dominic Miroglio ripped an RBI double in the seventh that was followed by Perri's run-scoring base hit. In the eighth, a leadoff single by James and another Pacific error allowed pinch-runner Tyler Villaroman to score on Aaron Ping's fielder choice, while Sinatro drove in another run with his own fielder's choice.
 
Free added an RBI single in the seventh for Pacific, while Sandri drove in a run with a single in the eighth.
 
USF and Pacific continue the three-game series on Saturday at 3 p.m. from Bendetti Diamond. Lefty Scott Parker (5-1, 2.57) will get the nod for the Dons, while right-hander Cooper Casad (2-4, 5.00) takes the mound for Pacific.