The Pacific University baseball team started conference play with a 2-0 win in game one and an 8-1 win in the nightcap over Lewis & Clark on Saturday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
The Boxer offense pounded out nine hits in the win but it was a masterful performance by junior pitcher
Derek Eubanks (pictured above) that will steal the headlines. Eubanks allowed a double in the first and a single in the second inning to the Pioneers. He finished the game, retiring nine-straight batters before handing the ball off to teammate
Liam Cammall, who closed out the game for the save.
Pacific ended the scoreless game in the fifth, plating a run on a RBI single by
Brad Altomare (pictured). The Boxers got a runner in scoring position when
Andrew Thomas doubled with one out, who then moved to third on a Pioneers' passed ball to set the stage for the early run. Pacific added an insurance run in the eighth inning. With two out,
Chase Anderson singled through the left side. He moved up to second, following a pitch. Then,
Ryan Krout snuck a double down the left-field line to score Anderson from second for the final run of the game.
The nightcap saw Pacific stay hot at the plate and in control on the mound, pounding out 13 hits and four pitchers limit the Pioneers to four hits.
Brad Altomare
Altomare and
Ian Blair each had three hits in the nightcap to lead Pacific in the win. Blair and
Chase Anderson each had two RBIs. Pacific starting pitcher
Tyler Nakata went five solid innings, striking out six and allowing two hits en route to the win before handing the ball to
Tyler Agnew for two innings of two-hit relief. After Agnew,
Tyler Oscarson and
Thomas Jamieson each pitched an inning of relief.
Pacific built a 4-0 lead in the first two innings for the early lead. Then, Blair helped extend the lead with a solo home run in the seventh and a RBI single in the eighth. He came in to score on a two-RBI triple to the gap in right-center by Anderson.
Lewis & Clark avoided the shutout, scoring a run in the top of the ninth for the final margin.
The two teams will wrap up the weekend series on Sunday with a noon first pitch at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
