A two-run first inning en route to an 8-0 lead saw Willamette take the series en route to a 9-3 win over the Pacific University baseball team in Salem on Sunday.
 
The Boxers (18-12, 10-5 NWC) had nine hits in the loss, including three more from sophomore Ryan Krout.
 
The Bearcats (13-13, 10-8 NWC) also had nine hits as nine-different players had a hit, including Sam Hudd and Cole Pursell, who had three and two RBIs, respectively.
 
Pursell led off the bottom of the first with a two-run home run for the early lead for the host Bearcats. Willamette added a run in the third and remained a 3-0 contest until Hudd hit a three-run home run in the sixth as Willamette extended its lead to 7-0.
 
An unearned run by the Boxers in the eighth got Pacific on the scoreboard. Then, they added two more runs on three hits in the ninth for the final margin. In the ninth, Paciifc got a RBI double by Tanner Johnson and a RBI ground out by Makoa Nakamura.  
 
Next, Pacific will host George Fox in a crucial three-game series. The Bruins and Boxers will begin the series with a doubleheader on Saturday, April 6 at noon at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.