FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Pacific Baseball clinched its third-straight Northwest Conference series victory with a dominant 15-4 win over Whitman in the series finale.
The Boxers (14-8, 9-6 NWC) are now tied for second in the NWC standings after taking two of three games from the visiting Blues. Eight of the nine starters recorded a hit in Pacific's offensive explosion. Two massive innings propelled the Boxers to victory, as a six-run third and nine-run fourth broke the game open.
Derek Eubanks (Senior/Oregon City, OR) got the nod in the rubber match and was solid in his 3.1 innings. He allowed three earned runs on four hits while striking out two.
Ryan Krout (Senior/Washougal, WA) continued his excellent weekend with a 2-for-3 day while driving in a couple runs, mashing his third double of the series. Krout is currently third in the NWC with 12 doubles on the year.
Ty Yukumoto (Freshman/Waipahu, HI) and
Cole Strober (Senior/Pacific City, OR) each enjoyed a two-hit performance. The freshman drove in a couple runs on a pair of singles while Strober scored two runs and picked up two stolen bases.
How It Happened
Whitman used back-to-back walks followed by three straight hits to put up three runs in the top of the first inning.
Pacific would go hitless in the first two frames before rallying for six runs in the third to take the lead.
Andrew Thomas (Senior/Escondido, CA) drew a leadoff walk before
Brad Altomare (Senior/San Ramon, CA) got hit by a pitch to set the table. Strober laid down a perfectly-placed bunt down the third base line for a hit to load the bases. With the bases juiced,
Tyler Quinn (Junior/Mililani, HI) ripped a grounder through the left side to drive in a couple runs.
Yukumoto came through with another big hit, lining one back up the middle to tie the game at 3-3. The Boxers managed to knock Whitman's starting pitcher, Wyatt Adams, out of the game, but the bats would stay hot when Krout welcomed the reliever with a double in the left-center gap. This big swing would plate two more, making it 5-3.
Isaac Lovings (Senior/Beaverton, OR) capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to score Krout from third base, putting his team up 6-3 at the end of three.
The hit parade continued in the fourth when Pacific put up nine runs. Altomare, Strober, and Yukumoto hit three consecutive singles to force the Blues to make another pitching change. Krout followed with his second hit of the game, a blooper to right field to keep the line moving. Lovings notched a base hit before
Patrick Muskat (Redshirt Freshman/Beaverton, OR) and
Damon Tanner (Sophomore/El Dorado Hills, CA) drew hit-by-pitches. This loaded the bases for Thomas who launched a double into the gap to make the score 12-3.
Using a few more free passes and a sacrifice fly from Quinn, the Boxers would take a 15-3 lead to put the game out of reach.
Whitman scratched a run in the eight but Pacific cruised to the 15-4 victory to win the series.
Up Next
The Boxers host George Fox for a non-conference matchup on Mar. 23. First pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
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