KEIZER –
Benjamin Lewis hit a two-run homer and
Davis Koester followed with a triple to drive in another run in the bottom of the ninth inning against Willamette.
But Pacific's offense woke up too late as the Boxers fell 5-3 Saturday afternoon to open Northwest Conference play with three straight losses at Volcano's Stadium.
The Bearcats scored a run in the bottom of the second inning, three in the third and added one more in the seventh to take a 5-0 lead.
Pitching in relief,
Chance Wallace shut out the Bearcats over three innings to keep Pacific in the game.
Koester was 3-for-3 at the plate. The Boxers outhit Willamette 9-7 but left 13 runners on base in Saturday's loss.
Leaving runners on base was a problem in all three games for Pacific.
Game 1
Governor Aufranc continued his strong start to the 2025 season, holding Willamette to five hits and one run over five innings.
But the Pacific junior received no run support in a 1-0 loss Friday afternoon.
The Bearcats scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first, following a leadoff triple with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.
Pitching in relief, Pacific senior
William Merriott allowed just one hit and recorded three strikeouts in 2 2/3 innings.
At the plate, Pacific junior
Riz Collado was 2-for-4. Senior
Matt Gibbs went 1-for-3 with two walks and a stolen base.
The Boxers left 10 runners on base in the loss.
Game 2
Pacific got the tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth. But the Boxers could not complete the rally, falling 6-3 Friday night.
Willamette scored two runs in both the first and second innings to take control of the game.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Pacific sophomore
Trevor Kazahaya homered to right center field for the Boxers first run of the series.
Trailing 6-1, Pacific scored two runs in the eighth inning. After junior
Miles Bergman scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore
Benjamin Lewis, Kazahaya knocked in senior
Vincent Lagatta with a double to left field.
The Boxers put runners on first and second base with one out in the top of the ninth. But Willamette pitcher Nate Schikore got a fly ball to right field followed by a strikeout to get out of the jam and finish off Pacific.
At the plate, Kazahaya, Lewis and Lagatta each had two hits. The Boxers left seven runners on base in the loss.
Next: Pacific plays at three-game series at East Texas Baptist next Friday and Saturday.
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