HAPPY VALLEY, Ore.--The Pacific softball team rallied but came up one run short, picking up their first loss of the season in falling to Northwest Christian 7-6 on Saturday afternoon at Hood View Park.

The game was the second of the day for the Boxers at the Northwest Cup, who earlier defeated British Columbia in eight innings, 6-5. Pacific is now 6-1-1 on the season, while Northwest Christian improved to 2-8.

Rachel Roberts got the Boxers on the board first with a two-run homer in the third inning, and that 2-0 margin held up until the top of the fifth inning. And then it went away very quickly.

The Beacons scored seven runs in that fateful fifth, slashing seven hits and taking advantage of three Pacific errors. Ashlee Cole capped the scoring with a three-run homer to make it 7-2.

Pacific's Trisha Snydar answered with a solo bomb in the sixth inning and the Boxers made it very interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Coach Liz Yandall's team scored three times to pull within a run, using a Kaitlynn Donaca RBI single, a Kylee Yamamoto sacrifice fly and a ground ball fielders choice. But NWC pitcher Katie Walker struck out the final Boxer batter to end the game and thus Pacific's unbeaten streak.

Roberts led the Boxer offense with three hits in four trips to the plate. She also scored twice, had two RBI and stole a base. Snydar also had two hits, including the home run.

Three different Pacific pitchers stepped into the pitcher's circle. Starter Allie Sims took the loss, despite giving up only one hit in 4.1 innings of work. She allowed just two earned runs but walked four Beacon batters.

Pacific will continue non-conference action on Sunday, taking on Corban in a doubleheader scheduled to start at noon. The game will also be played at Hood View Park.