LOS ANGELES, Calif. – The Pacific University baseball team used a couple clutch home runs in the seventh and eighth innings to take down Occidental 9-6 and clinch the victory in the series finale at Anderson Field.
The Boxers (2-1) scored twice in the first two frames but the Tigers (1-2) would respond with a four-spot in the third inning to take command of the contest. Pacific would go scoreless for four innings before breaking things open with a pair of homers in the seventh and eighth innings. From there, the Boxer bullpen allowed just one run over the final six innings to hold the lead and win the series.
Ryan Krout (Senior/Washougal, WA) hit his second big fly of the weekend, going 2-for-5 with two RBI.
Andrew Thomas (Senior/Escondido, CA) hit the go-ahead home run in the seventh, a momentum-changing swing to put Pacific out in front.
Tyler Quinn (Junior/Mililani, HI) recorded a two-hit day with three runs scored while
Ty Yukumoto (Freshman/Waipahu, HI),
Patrick Muskat (Redshirt Freshman/Beaverton, OR), and
Brad Altomare (Senior/San Ramon, CA) each tallied a hit on Sunday afternoon.
How It Happened
The Boxer bats were hot to start the contest as Quinn led off the game with a solid base hit to left. He would come around to score on a Muskat double in the gap, giving Pacific the early lead. However, Occidental would respond with a pair of hits in the bottom half to even the score at 1-1.
Damon Tanner (Sophomore/El Dorado Hills, CA) legged out a groundball to shortstop before Altomare laced a single to left field. After a ground out from Pacific's leadoff hitter, Krout found some grass in centerfield for a big two-out knock to put the Boxers back out in front.
Derek Eubanks (Senior/Oregon City, OR), Pacific's starting pitcher, would put up a zero in the second inning but Occidental would push four runs across in the third to take a 5-2 lead.
Davis Koester (Sophomore/Trout Lake, WA) relieved Eubanks in the fifth and maneuvered his way out of a jam, stranding two Tigers to record a scoreless frame.
In the top of the seventh, Quinn continued his hot streak by leading off the inning with a double to left field. Yukumoto would then put some pressure on the Occidental defense, reaching on an error that would allow Quinn to come around and score.
With runners on first and second, Thomas stepped to the plate and launched a three-run home run to change the momentum of the game. This would cap off a four-run inning to make the score 6-5 in favor of Pacific.
David Allen (Junior/Keizer, OR) was the next Boxer to toe the rubber and fanned two Tigers to register a scoreless seventh inning.
The Boxers would tack on another run in the eighth when Altomare reached on an error that landed him at second base and Quinn would trade places with him by ripping a double in the gap. Krout then provided another huge swing by blasting his second long ball of the weekend, a two-run shot to make the score 9-5.
An error allowed Occidental to score once in the eighth but
CJ Coyler (Sophomore/Gilroy, CA) shut the door by getting the final five outs. He would earn the save in his brilliant outing and Pacific would clinch the series victory.
Up Next
The Boxers will host Eastern Oregon for a four-game set starting on Feb. 12 at Chuck Bafaro Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12 p.m.
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