Boxers Drop Two Games To Lutes
Results: Game 1 | Game 2
TACOMA, Wash.—The Pacific softball team finished the road trip to Tacoma falling 13-5 in five innings and 6-3 against the Pacific Lutheran Lutes.
In the first game, Pacific Lutheran (9-4, 8-1 NWC) started the scoring early putting up one run in the bottom half of the first inning after sitting down the Boxers (11-6, 7-5 NWC) in order in the top half.
Ashley Billingsley (Jr., Gresham, Ore.) sent the ball over the center field fence to tie the game in the top of the second inning, but the Lutes fired back scoring eight runs in the bottom half off two Boxer errors and seven hits, including back-to-back home runs by Stacey Hagensen and Kaaren Hatlen.
The Lutes added four more runs in the third inning increasing their lead to 13-1.
The Boxers put together a rally in the top of the fifth inning, with Jenna Stevens (Fr., Medford, Ore.) reaching on a fielder's choice, Stephanie Vanoudenhaegen (Sr., Cornelius, Ore.) following with a walk and Beccan Moen (Fr., Gresham, Ore.) singling to load the bases for Chelsey Chamberlain (Jr., Grants Pass, Ore.). Chamberlain blasted the ball over the left field fence for her first grand slam of the season and to cut the Lutes lead to 13-5.
Despite the rally, the Boxers were not able to prevent Pacific Lutheran from taking the eight run win in five innings.
Taking the loss for Pacific was Shannon Miller (Fr., Vancouver, Wash., who pitched 2.2 innings before being relieved by Danielle Ashcraft, who pitched the final 1.1 innings.
In the second game, the Lutes took the early lead again as well, scoring one run on two hits in the first inning and another run on one hit and a Pacific error in the second to build a 2-0 lead.
The Boxers tied the game 2-2 in the top of the third. With one out, Vanoudenhaegen singled and stole second and third bases. Stevens follow earning a free base on a walk. Back-to-back singles by Chmaberlain and Billingsley brought home Vanoudenhagen and Stevens to tie the game.
The Lutes would break the tie in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs on two hits and a Pacific error to up the score to 5-2.
The Boxers answered with another run in the top of the fifth. Moen doubled to left field to start the inning and Vanoudenhaegen singled to advance Moen to third. Chamberlain brought Moen home with a sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 5-3, but the Lutes countered in the bottom half of the inning with another run bring the score to 6-3.
Rylee Parke (Fr., Dufur, Ore.) suffered her first loss of the season, pitching 5.1 innings for the Boxers and was relieved by Ashcraft for the final two outs of the game.
Billingsley led Pacific going 4 for 7 at the plate with two runs batted in. Additionally, Vanoudenhaegen was 3 for 6 and scored two runs, while Chamberlain was 2 for 4 with six runs batted.
The Boxers will head to Tucson, Ariz. for spring break games at the Tucson Invitational this weekend. The first competition for Pacific will be Carleton at noon and North Central at 2 p.m. on Saturday.
