The Pacific University softball team split a doubleheader with No. 6 Linfield at Sherman-Larkins Stadium on Friday night. The Boxers took game one by a 10-2 margin in six innings before the Wildcats came back with a 14-3 win in six innings in the nightcap.
 
The Boxers (23-10, 17-5 NWC) started the day, pounding out 14 hits and capitalizing on five errors by the Wildcats in the win. Nicole Martinez, Katelyn Macatis-Smith and Taylor Nishimura each had three hits to lead the attack. Jill Uyeda and Hailey Miller each added two more. A pair of Pacific pitchers – Cheyenne Datan and Carly Bursch each pitched three innings in the win. Bursch got the win, pitching three innings of one-hit relief.
 
After a scoreless first inning, Pacific got on the scoreboard in the second when they took advantage of a pair of errors by the Wildcats. The Boxers plated their first run of the day when they plated an unearned run. Then, they added to their lead with a four-run third inning. Two of the runs came in on a two-RBI single by Nishimura and again, Pacific took advange of two more miscues by the visitors from McMinnville.
 
Linfield managed to cut into the lead, scoring twice in the fourth inning. The Boxers bats came back alive in the fifth, scoring two runs on three hits to put Pacific ahead 7-2. After Bursch retired the Wildcats in order in the sixth, the hot Pacific bats brought in four more runs on three hits to end the game. Among the hits in the inning included a RBI single each by Miller and Nishimiura and a RBI double by Uyeda.

 
The nightcap saw the Wildcats record 13 hits and score 14 runs. Linfield had a pair of big innings, scoring five in the third and eight in the sixth en route to a 14-3 win. The Boxers got all three of its runs in the fifth.
 
Trailing 6-0 in the fifth, Nishimura started the inning with a single down the right-field line. She moved to second on a ground out; then the Boxers' Kiana Kushiyama reached on a fielder's choice as the Wildcats got Nishimura out at second. Martinez hit a double into the gap in left-center field to score Kushiyama from first for the first run of the nightcap for Pacific. Following a walk to Kaitlynn Donaca, her fellow senior Amanda Machado hit a RBI single to score Martinez from second. The late rally continued as Hailey Miller hit a RBI single for the third run of the inning, cutting the deficit to 6-3. A fly out by Jill Uyeda to left field ended the rally and the inning.

Linfield came back with eight runs on seven hits in the sixth. Pacific managed to mount a threat and load the bases in the sixth before a fly out ended the game.
 
The two teams will resume the series on Sunday with a noon doubleheader. Between the two games, Pacific will honor its seniors – Kaitlynn Donaca and Amanda Machado.