The Pacific University baseball team lost a pair of games to George Fox on Sunday at Ron Tonkin Stadium in Hillsboro. The Boxers dropped a 6-2, 10-9 (12 inning) decision to the local rivals in a twinbill that was mainly played in rainy and chilly conditions.
 
The rematch of the season opener saw that the Boxers make an uncharacteristic eight errors in the doubleheader. Boxers' designated hitter Joey Galeno (Auburn, Wash.) had two hits in each game to lead the Boxers, who had 17 hits in the doubleheader as did the Bruins. The 10 hits in the nightcap marked the first time in four games in 2017 that Pacific has dropped with double figure hits. With the two losses, Pacific falls to 8-6 overall and 3-5 in the Northwest Conference; meanwhile, George Fox raises its record to 4-9 overall and 3-5 in conference play.
 
In game one, Pacific scored a run each in the second and third inning to tie the game at 2. The Bruins regained the lead in the seventh, scoring three runs on four hits. The Bruins capitalized on an errant pick-off throw for the go-ahead run. Then, they added to their lead on a wild pitch and a double to stretch the lead to two. Then, they picked up an insurance run in the ninth. The Boxers managed to mount a threat before a double play kept Pacific off the scoreboard in its half of the eighth inning.
 
Galeno had two of the Boxers' seven hits and Dylan Wright (Gilbert, Ariz.) and Brandon Henderson (Pearl City, Hawaii) each had a RBI in the loss. Starting pitcher Paul Wolfram (Las Vegas, Nev.) pitched six innings, allowing four hits, four runs (all earned) and struck out to fall to 3-1. Bruins' starter Dustin Wells also went six innings, scattering four hits and striking out eight to improve to 2-2. Matt Voelzke pitched the final two innings for his first save of the season.
 
In game two, Pacific nearly rallied from an early 8-3 deficit as they scored a run in the third and seventh and two in the sixth and two more in the ninth to force extra innings. To mount the comeback, the Boxers had to overcome its defensive miscues. In the loss, the Boxers made six errors. Offensively, Kurtis Kloke (San Bernardino, Calif.) had a season-high three hits and Jacob Vice (Hillsboro, Ore.) hit his first career home run – a two-run shot - in the sixth. Galeno had two more hits and Ben Roquet (Edmonds, Wash.) added two more.
 
The Boxers took a 3-1 lead in the second inning when they capitalized on three bases loaded walks for the early advantage. The Bruins came back with seven runs in the third inning when the Boxers made three errors and surrendered just two hits.
 
Trailing 9-4 in the sixth inning, Vice sparked a comeback in the Boxers' dugout. The freshman left fielder hit his first career home run to trim the deficit to four, 9-6. The Boxers added another run in the seventh without a hit. A two-run ninth inning by Pacific sent the game into extra innings. With the bases loaded, Henderson hit a sacrifice fly and Shane Suyama (Beaverton, Ore.) reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game. To start the inning, Galeno walked and Roquet singled through the right side.
 
The Boxers had a chance to score the game-winning run in the 11^th when Galeno led off the inning with a double to right-center. After a Boxers' strikeout, a walk to Taren Bradd and a single by Henderson loaded the bases with one out. The Bruins kept Pacific off the scoreboard with back-to-back strikeouts.
 
In the 12^th, the Bruins managed to pushed across the game-winning run after Ramirez doubled down the right-field line to start the inning. A bunt attempt that was misplayed by the Boxers put runners on the corners. Then, after Pacific picked up a strikeout, the Boxers intentionally walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice scored what proved to be the winning run.
 
Bruins' reliever David Howell pitched two innings of two-hit relief for the win to improve to 2-0 and Garrett Day pitched a scoreless 12^th for his first save. The Boxers' Spencer Backstrom (Bellingham, Wash.) pitched the final three innings and struck out seven in the loss to fall to 1-1.
 
The two teams will wrap up the series on Monday with a 2:30 p.m. first pitch at Ron Tonkin Field in Hillsboro.