Boxers Bounce Defending National Champions . . . . Again!
Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
PARKLAND, Wash. – The Pacific softball team's offense stepped up big again, smashing three home runs in the first game to beat the defending national champions, Pacific Lutheran, 10-2 in five innings at Pacific Lutheran's softball field Wednesday afternoon. The Boxers dropped the second game 2-1.
The Boxers (16-16, 11-11) maintain their .500 standing, but made strides into earning a playoff spot in the Northwest Conference tournament. The Lutes improve to a 23-13 overall record and a 16-8 Northwest Conference record to stay in second place.
Rachel Roberts (Fr., Oregon City, Ore.) led the Boxers at the plate, going 4-6 with two runs scored.
Jessie Moore (Fr., Portland, Ore.) hit two home runs in consecutive at bats, compiling five RBIs.
Kylee Oshiro (So., Aiea, Hawaii) hit her first home run of the season in the first game, a solo shot over the left field wall.
Game 1 – Pacific 10, Pacific Lutheran 2 (5 innings)
Five innings is all the Boxers needed in the first game to collect the victory over the defending national champs. The offense came out swinging in the first inning scoring two runs on two hits.
Becca Moen (Jr., Gresham, Ore.) led off the game with an infield single. She late scored on
Marissa Reichard's (Fr., Forest Grove, Ore.) double to right center. Reichard stole third on the next play and was able to run home on the play due to a throwing error by the Lutes' catcher.
Three more runs in the top of third inning put the Boxers up 5-0. Moen led off the inning with a single to left field. Moen advanced to second on Roberts single to right field. Reichard put down a sacrifice bunt to move Moen and Roberts to second and third. Moore hit her first home run of the game, her fourth home run on the season, over the left field wall for three more Boxer runs.
The Lutes scored two runs in the bottom half of the third, but wasn't enough as the Boxers responded with five more runs in the fourth inning.
Kylee Yamamoto (Fr., Mililani, Hawaii) started the inning with an infield single, but was out on a fielder's choice by Moen on the next play. Moen advanced to second on Roberts' drag bunt, which Roberts was safe at first. Moen later scored on Reichard's single to right center. Roberts scored on a throwing error by the catcher before Moore hit the left field foul pole for her second home run of the game.
Pacific Lutheran put pressure on the Boxers in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. The Boxers executed a run down play to get the first out at third before a line out and a ground out to finish the game.
The Boxers pounded out 12 hits. Reichard led the Boxers going 2 for 2 at the plate with two RBIs. Oshiro, Moore and Roberts each went 2 for 3. Moen went 2 for 4 with three runs scored. Reichard (8-4) not only did well at the plate, but also collected the victory in the circle. In five innings, she allowed two runs on six hits while striking out five. Leah Butters suffered the loss for the Lutes in the circle.
GAME 2 – Pacific Lutheran 2, Pacific 1
The Lutes were on the board first in the second game, scoring two runs in the second inning. With one out, Kelsey Robinson singled to left field and Lindsey Matsunaga walked. The two scored on Katie Lowery's double to left center.
The Boxers couldn't get much offense going, but pushed across a run in the top of the fourth. Reichard reached on a fielder's choice and stole second. She stole third and scored on a catcher's throwing error to third base.
Lutes' starter, Kaaren Hatlen shutout the Boxers the rest of the game to collect the victory. She allowed one run on five hits while striking out five.
Sara Aasness (Jr., Kirkland, Wash.) (4-4) suffered the loss, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five.
Roberts led the Boxers at the plate, going 2 for 3 and
Maddie Collura (Jr., Phoenix, Ariz.) went 1 for 2.
The Boxers will play a four-game series against Lewis & Clark this weekend. On Saturday, the Boxers will travel to Lewis & Clark before returning home on Sunday to host the Pios.
