Poets Write Off Boxers In Twinbill Season Opener
Game 1 - Box Score
Game 2 - Box Score
WHITTIER, Calif. – The Pacific softball team belted out two home runs, but wasn't enough as the Boxers suffered a 12-2 and 6-4 twinbill loss to Whittier in non-conference season opener on Thursday afternoon at Palmer Field.
GAME 1
In the bottom of the first inning, Whittier (2-0) was on the board first.
Sara Aasness (Jr., Kirkland, Wash.), her first outing in a Boxer uniform, hit the first batter of the game and then gave up a single to the Poets. The Boxers secured an out with runners on first and second, but the Poets belted out their first home run of the afternoon to take an early 3-0 lead.
In the top of the second inning, the Boxers rallied back, scoring two runs.
Ashley Mitchell (Fr., Redmond, Wash.) saw four balls go by, taking a free pass to first base. With two outs,
Megan Winans (Fr., Hood River, Ore.) belted out her first homerun of the season, in her first at bat in a Boxer uniform, to cut the Poet lead to 3-2.
The Boxers were scoreless the rest of the game as the Poets added four more runs in the bottom of the second.
Shannon Miller (Jr., Vancouver, Wash.) came in to relieve Aasness with two outs. Miller walked a batter, but then ended the inning with a strikeout.
The Poets added five runs in the bottom of the fourth. The Boxers gave up three hits and had one error. In the top of the fifth, the Boxers had one last chance as
Marissa Reichard (Fr., Forest Grove, Ore.) was on second and
Becca Moen (Jr., Gresham, Ore.) was on third, but the Boxers came up short, ending the game on the mercy rule.
Reichard led the Boxers going 3 for 3 at the plate. Winans was 2 for 2 with a 2-run home run.
Jessie Moore (Fr., Portland, Ore.) was 1 for 2 at the plate with a single. Aasness (0-1) suffered the loss for the Boxers in the circle, allowed seven runs in 1.2 innings of work with one walk. Miller finished the game with three strikeouts and five earned runs.
GAME 2
The Boxers got on the board early in the second game. In the top of the second inning, Moore belted out her first homerun of the season and in a Boxer uniform.
Jenn Yano (So., Ontario, Ore.) pitched four scoreless innings, tallying four strikeouts. The Poets gained momentum in the fifth inning when they belted out their third home run on the afternoon, tying the game 1-1. The Boxers came back in the top of the sixth after
Kylee Yamamoto (Fr., Mililani, Hawaii) singled to centerfield with one out. Moen then reached on an error by the Poets shortstop and was called out due to being hit by
Emmie Moser's (Fr., Mt. Vernon, Wash.) ground ball to second. With two outs, Reichard doubled to right center to score Yamamoto.
The Poets gained the momentum back in the bottom of the sixth scoring five runs.
Chloe Hanson (So., Trail, Ore.) came in to relieve Yano. Hanson allowed one walk and a single before Reichard came in to be the final Boxer pitcher of the game. Reichard struck out the side to end the inning.
The Boxers battled hard in the final inning scoring two runs off three hits. With one out,
Kylee Oshiro (So., Aiea, Hawaii) doubled to left center.
Kaylene Sudbeck (So., Caldwell, Idaho) came in as a pinch runner for Oshiro.
Quirena Natividad (Fr., Waipahu, Hawaii) singled to score Sudbeck.
Nalani Antonio (Fr., Kapolei, Hawaii) came in to pinch hit for Hanson and singled up the middle to score Natividad for the Boxers' final run of the game.
Seven Boxers collected one hit. Moore, Oshiro, Natividad and Antonio all collected RBIs for the Boxers. Yano (0-1) suffered the loss in the circle, finishing with four earned runs, five strikeouts and two walks. Hanson tallied two earned runs, while Reichard collected two strikeouts.
The Boxers (0-2) continue their California trip as they travel to Chapman on Friday. First pitch is at 4 p.m.
