Eagerly awaiting to get on the field for game action for the first time since March 8th, 2020 the Boxer baseball team opened the 2021 season over the weekend with a non-conference four-game series against George Fox. 

The first day saw a pair of tight contests as the Boxers suffered a pair of one-run losses falling 6-5 and 4-3, but it was a bounce-back Sunday as Pacific pounded out 16 runs in the first game for a 16-0 seven-inning win and then won the final game of the series 4-1 for the four-game set split. 

Game 1
In the first game of the season, it didn't take long for the Boxers to find offense as they took the early lead with back-to-back hits to open the season the second being a two-run home run by Ryan Krout making it 2-0. George Fox answered with a run in the bottom of the first and another in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Krout blasted his second home run of the contest in the top of the third to give the Boxers the lead again but it was short-lived as George Fox plated three runs in the bottom of the inning. A run in the fourth and another in the fifth for the Boxers tied the game at 5-5 but George Fox got one more run in the bottom of the fifth and used that to hold for the 6-5 win. 

In the loss Krout led the Boxers going 2-3 with two home runs, three runs scored, three RBI's and a walk, while six other Boxers had a hit, including Brad Altomare who had a double. Highlighting things on the mound for the Boxers was Liam Cammall who tossed three innings of scoreless relief giving up just one hit and one walk. 

Game 2
Just like the first game the second game of the series was back-and-forth throughout the contest and the Boxers struck early again as a Tyler Quinn RBI double made it 1-0 in the top of the first. George Fox managed to scratch their first run on the board in the bottom of the third to tie the contest, while both teams added runs in the fourth as the Boxers scored one and George Fox tallied two taking the lead 3-2. George Fox got an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth and needed it as the Boxers scored one run in the top of the seventh but couldn't get another falling 4-3. 

Boxers only managed five hits in the loss led by Quinn's 2-2 performance with two RBI's, run scored, double, and home run. Kahi Bisho got the start tossing four innings striking out five but gave up three runs on three hits and three walks, while Sage Sunaway tossed two innings of work. 

Game 3
Eager to get in the win column after a pair of one-run losses on Saturday the Boxers made sure game three was securely theirs by capitalizing on 12 hits and 11 walks to score 16 runs for a 16-0 win in seven innings. 

Just like the first two game the Boxers scored first as Jordan Hara had an RBI double in the top of the first and then a two RBI double in the top of the third. Already leading 3-0 Pacific had an outburst of offense in the top of the fourth plating nine runs as the frame was highlighted by a three RBI double by Tanner Johnson and RBI double by RJ Gordon. Boxers tacked on three more runs for good measure and claimed the victory 16-0 in seven innings. 

Ian Blair led the Boxer offense going 3-5 with three RBI's, two runs scored and was hit by a pitch, while Gordon, Quinn and Hara each had a multi-hit game. Will Clark earned the win on the mound tossing four innings of scoreless action giving up three hits and two walks while striking out five. 

Game 4
After an offensive showing in the first game Sunday, the Boxers wanted to head one with a series split and accomplished that with a 4-1 win over George Fox in the last game of the four-game series. 

The scoring started early again for Pacific with two runs in the top of the first and then another in the third; George Fox got on the board in the bottom of the fifth with a run but that would be their only one of the contest. Looking for some insurance the Boxers added a run in the top of the seventh claiming the 4-1 win. 

Johnson and Carter Chapman each had two hits in the contest with a double and triple, respectively, while Hara blasted a home run. Brian Kraft earned the win going four innings of scoreless action striking out four while surrendering only two hits and three walks. Trent Nakata picked up the save throwing the final three innings. 

The series split opens the season for the Boxers with a 2-2 record. Pacific is back in action again on Saturday, March 6th and Sunday, March 7th when they host Whitman for a four-game non-conference series at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.