Hunter Dryden had not allowed a run over his first 23 innings of the 2024 baseball season.
But the Whitworth senior had not yet faced Pacific.
The Boxers tagged Dryden for five runs in a come-from-behind 8-7 victory over Whitworth Saturday in game one of the best of three series. Pacific then took game two 11-6 to improve to 12-2 overall and 2-1 in the Northwest Conference.
Game 1
After falling behind 7-0, Pacific scored one run in the bottom of the fifth and then added six runs in the sixth inning to tie the game.
Vincent Lagatta delivered the first major blow, hitting a grand slam to get the Boxers within 7-5 and knock Dryden out of the game.
Walker Matthews then hit a two-run homer to right field to tie the game at 7-7.
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth,
Zaine Gushiken doubled to left field and then scored on a walk-off RBI single to left field by
Jett Mai.
Mai finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs at the plate to lead Pacific's offense.
Joey Harmon earned the win on the mound, allowing one hit and recording four strikeouts over two scoreless innings.
Game 2
The Boxers again had to play from behind in game two as Whitworth scored four runs in the top of the first inning.
Matthews knocked in two runs in the bottom of the second on a triple to left field and then scored the tying run on passed by.
CJ Colyer gave Pacific the lead in the fourth inning with a two-run homer to left field.
The Boxers added another run in the fifth, two in the sixth and one more in both the seventh and eighth innings.
Ty Yukumoto went 3-for-5 with two doubles, three runs and four stolen bases.
Dawson Tokishi was 2-for-3 with a double and two walks.
Hunter Edwards did not allow a run over 2 1/3 innings to earn the win.
Davis Koester then pitched the final 3 2/3 innings to record the save.
Next, Pacific concludes the series with Whitworth Sunday at noon.
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