TACOMA, Wash. — Softball fans saw two very different games on Saturday afternoon when visiting Pacific split a Northwest Conference doubleheader with Puget Sound at the Logger Softball Field.
The Boxers captured game one 2-1 in a pitchers match-up, while UPS out-slugged Pacific in game two, 12-10. The win for Puget Sound was their first of the year, giving them a 1-9 overall mark and 1-5 record in the NWC. Pacific is now 12-5-1 on the year and 4-2 in league play.
In the first game, Pacific built a slim two-run lead and then had to hold off their hosts in the bottom of the seventh to hang on for the 2-1 win.
Haley Kodama homered in the second inning to give Pacific their first hit of the game and that 1-0 lead held until the Boxers added another plate crossing in the, thanks to
Kaitlynn Donaca's single and two Logger errors to make it 2-0.
But things got very interesting in the bottom of the seventh when UPS used a double and single to get on the board with no outs. But starting pitcher
Marissa Reichard got the final three outs of the game on a pop up and a pair of ground outs.
Reichard improved to 6-2 on the season, giving up only four hits, two walks and she fanned five. Donaca had three of Pacific's four hits in the game against Jaci Young, who was the hard luck loser, giving up only one earned run and fanning six.
The second game was as different as rain and sunshine. Puget Sound pounded out 12 hits against four different Boxer pitchers, and they scored in every inning except the sixth to light up the scoreboard.
Pacific's bats weren't silent either with 12 hits as well. The Boxers scored four runs in the second inning, with Reichard lacing a two-run double and
Rachel Roberts adding an RBI-single. Pacific would hold a series of leads at 5-3, 6-5 and 7-6 before UPS changed the course of the game in the bottom of the fifth.
In that stanza the Loggers put six runs in the books on four hits, including a two-run homer by Young. That gave them a 12-7 lead, but Pacific made a run in the seventh that came up just short. Reichard had an RBI single and Roberts drove in two players with a base knock, but she was stranded on second base with the tying run at the plate as the game ended with Young getting the final two outs.
Reichard stepped out of the pitcher's circle in game two into the batters box and had four hits in four trips to the plate. She also drove in four runs with a double and a triple. Roberts also had four RBI via three hits and had a stolen base.
Nalani Antonio scored four times and had two hits.
The two teams will square off again on Sunday at the Logger Softball Field. Doubleheader start time is 11 a.m.
