Boxers Break out Bats To Take Final Game Of Whitman Series
Box Score
WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Pacific once again pounded out eight extra base hits, but were able to convert that offense into runs Sunday as the Boxers scored the win in the finale of their Northwest Conference baseball series with Whitman,11-1, victory at Borleske Stadium.
Walker Olis (Fr., Burlington, Wash.) hit two solo home runs, his fourth and fifth of the season, while
Charlie Gaff (Fr., Stockton, Calif.) hit his first home run of the season.
Michael Arakaki (Sr., Mililani, Hawaii) had two more doubles, leading the Boxers by going 3 for 5 with three runs scored. The Boxers also received doubles from
Donnie Bradley (So., Beaverton, Ore.),
Austin Gallagher (So., Lake Oswego, Ore.) and
Dan Jaffe (Jr., Las Vagas, Nev.).
Pacific (9-18, 6-9 NWC) put the game out of distance early, scoring eight runs over the first three innings while holding the Missionaries (12-16, 7-11 NWC) to two hits during that same stretch. Olis opened scoring in the first with a solo home run to left center field. Gaff jump-started a three-run rally in the second with his solo homer run to left field. Jaffe followed with a double,
Nathan Suyematsu (Fr., Tualatin, Ore.) walked and Bradley scored them both with a double to left center field.
Olis opened the four-run third with a leadoff home run to left center field. Whitman starter Justin Weeks then loaded the bases when Arakaki and Gaff reached with singles and Jaffe reached on an error. Suyematsu followed with a two-run single to center, scoring Gaff and Arakaki and chasing Weeks from the game. Bradley greeted reliever Robert Maislin with a single to right, which scored Jaffe.
Arakaki opened the Pacific seventh inning with a double and Gallagher followed with a double to left, allowing Arakaki to score. A double play appeared to have the Missionaries out of any further danger, but Jaffe and Suyematsu walked and Bradley reached on an error to once again load the bases. Reliever Sterling Spilinek then issued a walk to
Nick Tasaka (Sr., Hawaii Kai, Hawaii), allowing Jaffe to score for a 10-0 Pacific lead.
Pacific added one more in the eighth when Arakaki doubled with one out and scored on Gallagher's single to left. Whitman finally broke through in the bottom of the eighth when pinch-hitter Jonny Chow singled to lead off the frame, stole second and third and scored on a ground out.
Matt Delegato (Sr., Hillsboro, Ore.) picked up his fifth straight victory with another fine performance, allowing four hits and one walk while striking out five in seven innings of work. Week dropped to 3-5 for the Missionaries, allowing eight runs, five earned, on eight hits with one walk and one strikeout in 2.2 innings of work.
Pacific returns home to face Whitworth next weekend in a showdown between last year's co-conference champions. Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's single game are both scheduled to begin at noon. Saturday's twinbill can be watched online via a live video webcast at GoBoxers.com.
