Boxers Win Three of Four at Tucson Invitational
TUCSON, Ariz.— In the opening weekend at the Tucson Invitational, the Pacific softball won three of four games. On the opening day, they defeated Carleton 16-2, fell to North Central 15-4 and returned the second day to beat St. Olaf 7-3 and St. Catherine 10-1.
In the first game of the trip against Carleton (1-5), the Boxers (14-7) had 16 hits and
Chelsey Chamberlain (Jr., Grants Pass, Ore.) collected her first win of the season, allowing no hits in her three innings of work.
The Boxers jumped out to an early lead scoring seven runs in the first inning, four more runs in the second and a single run in the third to increase their lead to 12-0. The Knights were able to get two runs in during the fourth inning off relief pitcher
Danielle Ashcraft (Fr., Sandy, Ore.), but were unable to drive in any other runs for the remainder of the game, while the Boxers added to the lead with one run in the fourth and three in the fifth.
Pacific claimed the 16-2 win in five innings. Along with collecting the pitching win, Chamberlain was 2 for 4 at the plate with both her hits being solo home runs, one in the second inning and one in the fifth.
Madison Collura (Fr. Phoenix, Ariz.) was 3 for 3 with four runs batted in and
Stephanie Vanoudenhaegen (Sr., Cornelius, Ore.) went 2 for 3 and collected three RBIs.
In the second game of the day, the Boxers took the early lead once again scoring a run in the first inning, two in the second and one in the third, but the North Central Cardinals (3-1) came firing back scoring five runs in the third, three in the fifth and seven in the sixth. North Central took the game in six innings 15-4.
Chamberlain led Pacific offensively; she went 2 for 3 at the plate with three RBIs and a double.
Rylee Parke (Fr., Dufur, Ore.) took the loss for Pacific; she pitched five innings and allowed ten hits, while striking out two.
Shannon Miller (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) came on in relief in the sixth inning and allowed six hits.
In the second day at the Tucson Invitational, the Boxers picked up two wins, starting with a 7-3 win over St. Olaf (0-5).
Pacific was the first to break into the scoring column with two runs in the second inning and two more runs in the third inning before the Oles were able to cut into the lead with two runs in of their own in the fourth inning to make the score 4-2. Pacific responded with two more runs in the fifth and one run in the sixth, while only allowing St. Olaf one additional run in the sixth. The Boxers were able to take the 7-3 victory.
Chamberlain gathered her second win of the weekend, pitching four innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three. Ashcraft pitched three innings in relief and collected her first save of the season.
In the final game of the weekend play, Pacific took a six-inning 10-1 win over St. Catherine (2-4). Parke captured her ninth win of the season, scattering seven hits and striking out five in the six innings of work.
For the fourth straight game at the Tucson Invitational, the Boxers broke into the scoring column first. Pacific scored a single run in the third inning and added two in the fourth and fifth, respectively, and a final five runs in the sixth inning. St. Catherine's was only able to get one run past the Pacific defense in the fifth inning and the Boxers claimed the 10-1 win in six innings.
Pacific was led by balanced offensive attack.
Becca Moen (Fr., Gresham, Ore.) led the Boxers going 3 for 4 with an RBI. Vanoudenhaegen, Parke,
Ashley Billingsley (Jr., Gresham, Ore.) and
Lauren Tuey (Jr., Redlands, Calif.) all were 2 for 3 at the plate. Chamberlain knocked in three RBIs, while Billingsley added two.
Pacific will end their time at the Tucson Invitational playing McPherson at 9 a.m. and Calvin at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.
