FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Two exciting contests took place at Chuck Bafaro Stadium for Pacific baseball's home opener against Eastern Oregon, as the Boxers rallied from six runs down to earn the 8-7 victory before their comeback effort was stopped just short in their 4-3 defeat in game two.
The Boxers (3-2) trailed 7-1 in the first game of the series but scored four runs in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit. The Pacific bullpen was fantastic, holding the Mountaineers scoreless over the final seven frames. The bats came to life in the fourth and fifth innings, allowing the Boxers to take the lead and snatch the win in the series opener.
The second contest of the day was a pitcher's duel for four innings until Eastern Oregon broke things open with four runs in the top of the fifth.
Robert Drayer (Senior/Makawao, HI) launched a two-run homer in the seventh to make it a one-run ballgame, but the Mountaineers would hold on to split the doubleheader.
Drayer enjoyed a 2-for-4 day in his season debut, hitting a home run and a double to lead the Boxer offense in game two.
Isaac Lovings (Senior/Beaverton, OR) was seeing the ball very well in his 3-for-5 performance, scoring two runs while roping a double.
Ty Yukumoto (Freshman/Waipahu, HI) also recorded two hits on Saturday afternoon.
Game 1
The Mountaineers got to
Will Clark (Junior/Boise, ID) early in game one, as the Pacific ace allowed seven earned runs on 10 hits.
He would hand the ball over to
Sage Dunaway (Junior/Sherwood, OR) who was brilliant in his long relief outing. The junior tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing just three hits while striking out three hitters.
Pacific got on the board when
Tyler Quinn (Junior/Millani, HI) smashed a triple into the left-center gap. After the throw got away from third base, Quinn would come around to score. In the bottom of the second, the Boxers used three hits and a hit-by-pitch to make the score 7-5.
With two runs in the bottom of the fifth, Pacific would take the lead.
Dawson Tokishi (Sophomore/Kahului, HI) led off the inning with a base hit and two more Boxers would reach base via a walk and hit-by-pitch.
Ryan Krout (Senior/Washougal, WA) came up with a big two-out single two bring two runs to the plate.
David Allen (Junior/Keizer, OR) would take over for Dunaway in the top of the sixth and continued to keep the Mountaineer hitters off balance as he went 2.2 innings without allowing a run. The right-hander allowed just two hits in his masterful outing.
Davis Koester (Sophomore/Trout Lake, WA) got the last five outs to earn the save, striking out two while allowing just one hit.
Game 2
Kahi Bisho (Senior/Honolulu, HI) toed the rubber for the second game of the doubleheader. He cruised through four frames before Eastern Oregon scored four runs on four hits to take a commanding lead.
The Boxers scored once in the third inning after a
Max Nealon (Senior/Redmond, WA) single, but didn't score again until the seventh.
Drayer provided the big swing with a two-run shot to bring Pacific within one run. In the bottom of the ninth, Drayer led off the inning with a double to put the tying run on second base. After a groundout, Lovings was intentionally walked. A wild pitch would advance the two runners and Eastern Oregon would elect to walk Quinn to load the bases.
With one out and the bases loaded, the Boxers were unable to capitalize on the opportunity and the Mountaineers would escape with the 4-3 win.
Up Next
The series will conclude tomorrow with another doubleheader against Eastern Oregon. First pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
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