MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A big two-run triple in the third inning by
Quirena Natividad (So., Waipahu, Hawaii) was the deciding factor in the Boxers' 4-3 elimination game victory against the Whitworth Pirates in the Northwest Conference Tournament at Del Smith Field.
With the win, the Boxers will face Linfield in the Championship game, which is scheduled to start at 2:20pm.
On the season, the Boxers have beaten the Pirates six times.
The game, which was originally scheduled for a 10 a.m. start, was delayed until 11:30 due to rain.
The Pirates scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning when a single out to center field by Julia Johnson scored Alyssa Hall. On the next at-bat, Shannon Wessel hit a single out to left field that scored Taylor Gilbert and gave the Pirates a 2-0 lead in the game.
The Boxers fired back in the bottom of the third inning when an error allowed
Kaitlyn Shikada (Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii) to get the first run of the day for the Boxers. Then Natividad boomed a triple out to center field that scored
Becca Moen (Sr., Gresham, Ore.) and
Kylee Yamamoto (So., Mililani, Hawaii), giving the Boxers a quick 3-2 lead over the Pirates.
The Boxers then stretched their lead in the bottom of the fourth inning when
Ashley Mitchell (So., Redmond, Wash.) stole third and scored on the throw, giving the Boxers a 4-2 advantage in the game.
In the top of the fifth inning, Peyton McMahon hit a double out to center field that scored Wessel and closed the Boxers' lead to 4-3.
Sara Aasness (Sr., Kirkland, Wash.) earned another win on the season, bringing her season record to 14-5. She gave up eight hits and three runs, two earned. She also had two walks and seven strikeouts. Madi Perez picked up another loss against the Boxers after giving up two hits and three runs, one earned. Perez also had two walks and two strikeouts.
