Boxers Split With Bearcats In NWC Opener
Results: Game 1 | Game 2
SALEM, Ore.—Pacific started the day with a 9-4 win over the Willamette Bearcats and fell in the second game 3-1 in the opening doubleheader of Northwest Conference play.
In the first game, the Boxers (5-2, 1-1 NWC) put the first run up on the board in the top of the first after lead-off batter Stephanie Vanoudenhaegen (Sr., Cornelius, Ore.) reached on an error, advanced to second on a Madison Collura (Fr., Phoenix, Ariz.) groundout and came around to score on Ashley Billingsley's double down the rightfield line.
Pacific pushed the lead to 6-0 by adding two runs in the third and fifth innings and a single run in the fourth inning before Willamette (1-3, 1-1 NWC) was able to get a run across home plate in the bottom of the fifth inning. The Boxer's two runs in the second inning came in compliments of Lauren Tuey's (Jr., Redlands, Calif.) two-run blast over the left-centerfield fence. In the fourth, Becca Moen (Fr., Gresham, Ore.) singled to start out the inning, she advanced to second on a Tuey single and third on a sacrifice bunt by Jenna Stevens (Fr., Medford, Ore.) and finally scoring on a wild pitch. Pacific's four hit fifth inning led to two runs, with Jordan Mittelsdorf (Jr., Boardman, Ore.), Moen, Tuey and Stevens all getting singles to score Danielle Ashcraft (Fr., Sandy, Ore.), Mittelsdorf's pinch runner, and Brooke Toy (Sr., Drain, Ore.), who reached base on a fielder's choice.
Willamette was able to capitalize on a lead-off walk in the bottom of the fifth inning and score their first run. The Bearcats held Pacific in the top of the sixth and scored three runs off four hits and two Boxer errors in the bottom of the sixth to end the inning with the score at 6-4.
In their last at bat of the game, Pacific rattled off three more runs. With the bases loaded, designated player Chelsea Chamberlain (Jr., Grants Pass, Ore.) hit a three RBI double to centerfield to clear the bases and increase the Boxer lead to 9-4. The Pacific defense then sat down three straight Willamette batters to seal the victory.
Rylee Parke (Fr., Dufur, Ore.) went the distance for Pacific, pitching all seven innings to pick up her third win. She gave up nine hits and struck out five batters.
In the second game of the day, Willamette struck first with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. The Boxers did not get a runner past first base until the fourth inning. Vanoudenhaegen started the inning with a single to left field and reached third base after a throwing error by the Hope Kloczko got Moen safely onto first. Vanoudenhaegen came around to score Pacific's only run of the game on a sacrifice fly by Chamberlain.
Pacific got singles from Ashcraft in the top the fifth and Chamberlain in the top of the seventh, respectively, but was unable to get another run across the plate. Willamette added a single run in the bottom of the sixth inning to increase the lead to 3-1 and claim the win.
Shannon Miller (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) took the loss for the Boxers. She allowed four hits and two walks, while striking out three Willamette batters.
Over the two games, Chamberlain led the Boxers with four RBIs and Tuey was 3 for 5 with two RBIs.
The Boxers will face-off with the Bearcats in another doubleheader again tomorrow at noon in Salem, Ore.
