Box Scores:
Game 2 (rescheduled from 2/22)Game 1 Game 2 FOREST GROVE – The Boxers relied on some great defense this Saturday to get a trio of wins over Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran.
The Boxers started off the day playing the final four innings of a game that was originally scheduled for Feb. 22. Already with a 2-1 lead, the Boxers added to their score and finished with a 4-1 win. They then started their regularly scheduled double-header, where they won the first game 3-1 and took the second game in extra innings, winning 3-2.
Coach Tim Hill was happy with the performance of his softball team. "It's feels really good." Hill said. "We're fighting for that last playoff spot, and it's difficult because everyone else in the conference is winning, too. There's no clear cut path for us, we have to keep winning."
After the trio of games the Boxers are 18-9 and 13-8 in the conference, half a game behind Whitworth.
The day had fantastic runs by three different Boxer pitchers.
Maddie Collura (Sr., Phoenix, Ariz.),
Sara Aasness (Sr., Kirkland, Wash.), and
Allie Sims (Fr., Puyallup, Wash.) all had key stretches of play where they blanked the Lutes. "All the pitchers came through today," Hill said. "They needed to step up. We've had some injury problems earlier in the year and the girls all stepped it up and came up big."
Kylee Oshiro (Jr., Aiea, Hawaii) came in the clutch for the Boxers, with multiple game saving RBIs in the third game, and five RBIs total. "Kylee is a great player, doesn't matter the part of the game," said Hill "She is clutch, both with her bat and her arm."
Rachel Roberts (So., Oregon City, Ore.) had five stolen bases in the day, setting the school single season record, with 39. The previous record holder was current assistant coach Stephanie Henningson (né Vanoudenhaegen), who had 38 in 2011.
GAME 2 (final 4 innings from Feb. 22 game): PACIFIC 4, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 1
The first game of the day had the Boxers playing as the visitors in Sherman/Larkins stadium, finishing up a game that was originally scheduled for Feb. 22 in Tacoma, Wash but was suspended due to darkness. The suspended game started at the top of the fourth inning with a 2-1 lead over the Lutes.
In the first half of the game, the Boxers and Lutes traded blows in the first inning.
Rachel Roberts (So., Oregon City, Ore) scored off an
Ashley Mitchell (So., Redmond, Wash.) walk at the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the first, PLU returned the favor with a run of their own when Spencer Sherwin scored off a reach on a fielder's choice.
Pacific grabbed the lead in the third inning, when
Kaitlyn Shikada (Jr., Honolulu, Hawaii) hit a single and allowed
Megan Winans (So., Hood River, Ore.) to score. At the end of the inning, the game was suspended because it was too dark to play.
In the fifth inning, Mitchell hit a double and later made it to third base. Later in the inning, an error allowed her to score and brought the Boxers' lead to 3-1.
In the top of the sixth inning, Oshiro hit a single, which allowed
Quirena Natividad (So., Waipahu, Hawaii) to score as the Boxers grabbed a 4-1 lead, and the win.
Aasness, who subbed in for Collura in the third inning, earned the win by allowing no hits in five innings. Roberts had three hits in the game and one run.
Becca Moen (Sr., Gresham, Ore.), Natividad, Oshiro, Mitchell and Shikada all finished with one hit each. Natividad, Mitchell and Roberts finished with one run a piece.
GAME 1: PACIFIC 3, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 1
In the second game of the day the Lutes got the Boxers' defense to bend, but could not get it to break. While giving up hits late in the game, Pacific Lutheran was unable to score runs while the Boxers came away with the win.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Oshiro hit a sacrifice fly that allowed Moen to score the first run of the game. Right after that, Roberts scored off an error to bring the Boxers to a 2-0 lead.
In the top of the sixth inning, a single by Pacific Lutheran's Lindsey Matsunaga and an error by the Boxers brought Sherwin to home plate and finally put the Lutes on the board.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, another sacrifice fly by Oshiro allowed Moen to score, bringing the score to 3-1.
In six innings, Collura gave up six hits but the Lutes were held to only one run. Aasness subbed in for Collura in the seventh inning and did not give up a hit, stopping the Lutes' attempt at a comeback.
Oshiro finished the game with two RBI's. Roberts finished with two hits and a run. Moen had one hit and two runs.
Emmie Moser (So., Mt. Vernon, Wash.) had one RBI and one hit.
GAME 2: PACIFIC 3, PACIFIC LUTHERAN 2 (9 Innings)
The Lutes got tougher and tougher as the day wore on, but the Boxers were no going to let one get away. Despite giving up eight hits, the Boxers held Pacific Lutheran to two runs in a game that went to extra innings.
The game was scoreless until the top of the sixth inning when the Lutes grabbed their first lead of the day after a single from Tori Hamura, which got the run for Katie Lowery.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Boxers came right back with a single from Oshiro getting the run for Roberts.
In the top of the ninth inning, Emily McConnell hit a single, which scored Thalen Masada a run to give the Lutes the 2-1 lead.
But Oshiro hit right back with a double that brought Natividad home to tie it up. With runners at second and third, and attempted pickoff play at third went wide of the bag, allowing Oshiro to score and win the game.
Oshiro finished the nightcap with four hits and two RBIs. Roberts, Natividad and Winans all had one hit.
The Boxers' next game will be on Tuesday Apr. 8 at Sherman/Larkins Stadium, a doubleheader against Puget Sound that was rescheduled because of rain.
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