Boxers Sweep Missionaries To Claim Third In NWC
Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Pacific took sole possession of third place in the Northwest Conference standings Saturday thanks to a doubleheader sweep of Whitman in baseball action at Borleske Stadium.
The Boxers received another strong pitching performance from
Rob Dittrick (So., Mililani, Hawaii) in the opener and the offense replied with some early run support to score a 4-3 victory. In the nightcap, Pacific rallied from four runs down to score four in an injury-riddled eighth inning before
Logan Moen (So., Brier,Wash.) singled in the winning run for a 5-4 come-from-behind victory.
With the sweep, Pacific (18-11-1, 11-6 NWC) moved into sole possession of third place in the NWC standings thanks in part to a George Fox split with Puget Sound.
Dittrick improved to 7-2 on the season with a performance that saw him allow just one run on seven hits over the first eight innings. The Pacific offense, which had been hit-and-miss as of late, came through to give Dittrick some early runs to work with.
Travis Koon (Fr., Albany, Ore.) opened the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly by
Kevin Schwartz (Jr., Milwaukie, Ore.). The Missionaries (4-24, 3-14 NWC) responded with one in the second when Aaron Cohen singled and later scored on a single by C.J. Pentland.
Schwartz made it a 2-1 game in the third when he singled and scored on a single to center field by
Chad Fahey (Jr., Keizer, Ore.). Fahey then doubled with one out in the eighth and then scored on a double down the left field line by
Nate Rasmussen (Jr., Sandy, Utah).
The Missionaries rallied to come within striking distance in the ninth. Kyle Buckham and Jay Richards each singled to open the frame.
Dan Wolfe (Sr., Warrenton, Ore.) entered for Dittrick, and then allowed a two-run single to Cameron Young before coaxing Erik Korsmo into a ground out for his fifth save of the year.
Dittrick allowed three runs on nine hits with two walks and eight strikeouts in 8.2 innings of work. Justin Weeks fell to 2-5 with the loss for Whitman, allowing four runs on 10 hits with two walks and three strikeouts in eight innings. Fahey, Rasmussen and
Trux French (So., Kennewick, Wash.) each went 2 for 4 to lead Pacific, while Richards went 3 for 5 for Whitman.
In the second game, it appeared that the Missionaries would cruise for the win after scoring four runs against Pacific starter
Jason Sawyer (Fr., Scappoose, Ore.) over the first five innings. Richards reached on a fielder's choice in the third and scored on a double by Casey Minnick. Korsmo made it a 4-0 game with one swing of the bat, smashing a three-run homer to left field.
The Boxers found themselves suddenly back in the game in an eighth inning that saw the Missionaries commit five errors, resulting in four Pacific runs. After the first two batter reached base, pinch runner
Therone Bridges (Fr., Vancouver, Wash.) scored from second thanks to two Whitman errors in the same play. Two batters later,
Mike Nagamine (Jr., Aiea, Hawaii) reached on an error, allowing Koon and
Anson Arakaki (So., Hilo, Hawaii) to score. Rasmussen, the sixth batter of the inning, finally came up with the first hit of the inning when he connected on a single to right that scored Schwartz.
Whitman looked to have another rally going in the eighth with runners at first and third with one out. Rasmussen then came into the pitch for reliever
Dustin Christensen (Fr., Riverton, Utah), and got Madden to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Koon accounted for the winning run in the ninth when he was hit by a pitch with two outs in the top of the ninth. He advanced to second when Schwartz walked and came home on Moen's single to center field. Rasmussen then proceeded to retire the side in order to pick up his first win of the season. In 1.2 innings, Rasmussen did not allow a hit while facing four batters.
Aaron Cohen took the loss for Whitman, dropping to 0-7 by allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits with two walks and a strikeout in two innings of relief. Rasmussen and French each had two hits for Pacific, while seven different batters had hits for Whitman.
Pacific will go for the series sweep on Sunday as they conclude their three-game set with a single game at noon.
