Dittrick, McGuire Throw Boxers To Another Twinbill Sweep
Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
FOREST GROVE – Pacific used a pair of outstanding starting pitching performances and a four-hit afternoon from
Kevin Schwartz (Sr., Milwaukie, Ore.) to run their win streak to nine games Friday as the Boxers swept both ends of a Northwest Conference baseball doubleheader from Whitman at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
Rob Dittrick (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii) won his sixth decision and his third complete game in the opener, allowing just three hits and striking out five in a 5-0 shutout of the Missionaries. Schwartz had two hits as did
Nate Rasmussen (Sr., Sandy, Utah) and
Greg Tellez (Sr., White Salmon, Wash.).
In the nightcap, McGuire pitched five innings of shutout baseball to earn his third win of the season to lead the Boxers to a 9-2 victory. Schwartz added another two hits and two runs.
Donnie Bradley (Fr., Beaverton, Ore.) added two hits and two runs batted in while
Michael Arakaki (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii) had two hits and a run.
The wins were the eighth and ninth straight for the Boxers and improved Pacific's record to 15-9, 12-2 NWC. The victories give Pacific a three-game lead in the NWC standings over Linfield, who moved into second place with a sweep over Pacific Lutheran. Whitman dropped to 4-25, 4-13 NWC.
GAME 1- PACIFIC 5, WHITMAN 0
Dittrick opened the game by striking out the first three batters of the game, giving a glimpse of how dominant the league's wins leader would be in the contest. Dittirck did not allow a hit after the third inning, allowed just one runner past first base and at point retired 10 straight batters between the fourth and seventh innings.
The Boxers opened scoring when they parlayed a Whitman error into three runs in the third. Tellez and Schwartz each singled with one out, with Tellez scoring when Bradley's roller through the right side was misplayed.
Chad Fahey (Sr., Keizer, Ore.) made the Missionaries pay with a double to left center that scored both Bradley and Schwartz.
Both runs Pacific scored in the fifth were a result of Whitman miscues. Tellez doubled to open the frame, and Bradley followed with a rolling ball to shortstop that he out-hustled for a base hit. Whitman first baseman Peter Valentine mishandled the ball at first base, allowing Tellez to score from third. Bradley later scored when Whitman starter Will Thompson was called for a balk.
The victory for Dittick was the first shutout of his three complete game performances. He has now won his last six decisions. Thompson took the loss for the Missionaries (0-5), allowing five runs, three earned, on eight hits, a walk and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work. Jonny Chow, Aaron Cohen and MacLean Harned had the Missionaries' three hits.
GAME 2 – PACIFIC 9, WHITMAN 2
McGuire continued to be effective in just his third start of the season despite throwing on just four days rest. The senior allowed three hits and struck out three to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Quin Moore (So., Bellingham, Wash.) picked up a four-inning save, allowing two runs on four hits with a strikeout to end the game.
Pacific's offensive modus operandi, meanwhile, was manufacturing hits and taking advantage of Missionaries' mistakes. Schwartz scored the Boxers' lone run in the first when he singled to third base and later scored on a wild pitch.
Logan Moen (Jr., Brier, Wash.) made it a 2-0 game in the third, leading off the frame with a single and later scoring on a high throw off on Fahey's ground ball.
The Boxers scored two in the fifth by more conventional means. Schwartz singled with one out, stole second and scored on a Bradley single to left center field. Two batters later,
Jared Van Hoon (Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) doubled to left center field to score Fahey, who had reached on a fielder's choice.
Whitman scored their first runs of the day in the top of the sixth. Aaron Cohen reached when he was hit by a pitch and later scored on Pacific's lone error of the afternoon. Jimmy Madden followed with a single that scored Kyle Moyes.
Pacific took both runs back in the home half of the sixth on a squeeze play. Arakaki opened with a single and Tellez reached when he was hit by a pitch. Both runners advanced 90 feet on
Allan Cushing's (Sr., Puyallup, Wash.) sacrifice bunt. Moen then laid down a sacrifice bunt down the left field line. Both runners were in motion before Moen made contact and the squeeze scored both Arakaki and Tellez without a throw home.
The Boxers added one in the seventh when Bradley singled and scored on a sacrifice fly. They added two in the eighth when Tellez scored on a wild pitch and pinch runner
Grant Rogers (Fr., Clackamas, Ore.) plated on a ground out.
Justin Weeks (1-7) took the loss for the Missionaries as he allowed four runs, three earned, on six hits with a walk and two strikeouts in five innings of work. Top seven batters in the Whitman order all had one hit each.
The Boxers conclude their three-game series with Whitman on Saturday afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. Prior to the game, members of Pacific's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee will present a check to Special Olympics Oregon to cap a yearlong fundraising effort.
