Box Score FOREST GROVE – Pacific added needed cushion between themselves and Whitworth Friday afternoon, finishing a halted game with the Pirates and claiming a 4-3 victory in Northwest Conference softball action at Sherman/Larkins Stadium.
With the win, Pacific improved to 21-9, 16-8 NWC, and built a two-game lead over the third place Pirates, who dropped to 22-14, 14-10 NWC.
The game, originally scheduled for Mar. 8, was suspended in the top of the fourth inning due to rain.
Rachel Roberts (So., Oregon City, Ore.) added one stolen base to her single season school record and NCAA Division III leading amount of 41 stolen bases. As a team, the Boxers are ranked second in the NCAA Division III in stolen bases per game. Roberts also had two hits and two runs.
Thanks to a pair of costly errors, the Pirates grabbed an early two-run lead at the top of the first inning. Alyssa Hall scored on a fielding error and Taylor Gilbert scored on a wild pitch.
The Boxers made sure to get on the board in the first inning, too, when Roberts scored on off a single by
Kylee Oshiro (Jr., Aiea, Hawaii).
At the top of the second, Tessa Matthews scored off a single by Gilbert to give Whitworth a 3-1 lead.
But the Boxers fought right back in the bottom of the third inning.
Megan Winans (So., Hood River, Ore.) hit a two-run double to score both Roberts and
Becca Moen (Sr., Gresham, Ore.). Oshiro then scored off a fielding error, giving the Boxers a 4-3 lead.
Sara Aasness (Sr., Kirkland, Wash.) earned her 10th win of the season, giving up seven hits, three runs and one earned run. She also had 4 strikeouts and two walks. Makayla Lefever picked up the loss and is now 3-4. She gave up five hits, four runs and three earned runs.
Pacific will conclude the regular season with four games against George Fox. The team will play a doubleheader in Forest Grove on Saturday beginning at noon. Pacific's three seniors will be honored between games, as will Head Coach Tim Hill, who is retiring at the end of the season. The team will then play on Sunday at George Fox.
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