LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Feb. 9, 2008) – In the long awaited season opener the Tigers got a 6-3 victory in game one before falling 5-4 to Whitman College in a 10-inning game two at Anderson Field today.

Junior Matt Jones took the ball for the Tigers in game one, tossing 6.0 innings, allowing just three hits while striking out a pair, to earn the win. The only run he surrendered came on a first inning homerun by Whitman's Austin Shackelford. After a walk to the clean-up man, Jones retired the next  14 batters consecutively.

In the bottom of the first, trailing by a run, Seth Goss drew a walk to start things off and immediately swiped second for his first of two stolen bases on the day. With two outs, senior centerfielder Matt Andersen drove Goss in with a single to right field, tying the score at 1-1.

Oxy added to the lead in the third inning when freshman shortstop Case Miyahira began his collegiate career with a lead-off triple to center field. Goss then singled to right, sending Miyahira across the plate. Spencer Woolwine was hit by a pitch before coming around on an error to put the Tigers up 3-1.

Woolwine added to the lead in the fifth with a solo shot to left field, marking the ultimate winning run. Again he reached base in the seventh on a single to center after Goss was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Glenn Gray got his first hit of the season, driving in Goss, moving Woolwine to second. Senior backstop Adam Franks connected for an RBI infield single to give Occidental its sixth run of the game.

Oxy southpaw Kris Suzuki threw two shutout innings in his collegiate debut, allowing two hits while striking out two. Nick Smallman also took the hill for the first time in college, but struggled, throwing just 2/3 of an inning. Junior transfer Kieran Doherty made his first appearance in black and orange, striking out the only batter he faced to close the door in game one.

Game two began the same way as Shackelford homered to left in his first plate appearance. Oxy responded with a pair of long balls off the bats of Goss and Gray who homered to right and left, respectively.

In the top part of the third Shackelford drove in Jay Richards who doubled to lead off the inning, pulling the Missionaries within one. Again Occidental added to the lead when Andersen hit a shot over the left centerfield fence for a solo shot of his own.

Miyahira again found his way onto the base paths, singling to right center and scoring on Gray's second hit of the game.

Although that was all the scoring the Tigers would do in the game, the Missionaries weren't quite done yet.

In the eighth with one out the 2-3-4 hitters combined for two hits, a walk and two runs. The Tigers were unable to score in the ninth, sending the game into extra innings.

With runners on first and second Whitman connected for back-to-back singles taking a 5-4 lead. Despite two hits in the bottom of the inning the Tigers couldn't push a run across the plate, leaving the teams with an opening day split.

Oxy's starting pitcher Noel Banuelos tossed seven innings, striking out six as he scattered five hits, allowing two earned runs. On in relief for the Missionaries, Mike Rathwell was credited with the win after throwing 2.0 scoreless innings for WC.

Gray began the 2008 season the same way he wrapped up his freshman campaign as he went 4-8 with three RBIs and seven total bases. Miyahira was right behind going 3-7 with six total bases, two runs and two extra base hits. Goss and Woolwine each scored three times for the Tigers. Additionally, Goss drove in two as he went 2-5 on the day, walking twice and being hit twice as well. Andersen drove in three runs on the day.

Oxy second baseman Dan Kelley got his first collegiate hit when he singled in the first game.

Whitman's Shackelford finished the day 3-6 with four runs, three RBIs and two homeruns, leading the way with 10 total bases. Micah Babbitt picked up four hits and Luke Marshall collected three. Marchall and Adam Knappe drove in two apiece.

Oxy (1-1) and Whitman (1-1) will be back on the diamond tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. for the finale of the three-game set.