Pacific freshman Nicholas Saelens dazzled from the mound for 8 1/3 innings to lead the Boxers to a 5-2 win over Northwest Conference rival Linfield.

Getting the start for Monday's rubber match, Saelens shut out the visiting Wildcats for eight innings. He allowed two hits before getting pulled for Hunter Edwards with one out in the top of the ninth.

After Linfield scored two runs on a ground ball to shortstop and a single to left field, Hunter got a ground ball to second base to end the game a take the series from the Wildcats.

Saelens, who allowed four hits and three walks and recorded five strikeouts to earn his first collegiate win, didn't give up his first hit until the fifth inning.

Pacific jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first two innings of the deciding game three. 

Freshman Javin Hamura walked to lead off the bottom of the first, stole second base and then scored on a Davis Koester ground ball. 

Wth the bases loaded and one out in the second inning, Benjamin Lewis scored when Nathaniel Chapman was hit by a pitch. Vincent Lagatta then scored on a ground ball by Hamura. 

The Boxers added two more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.

SUNDAY

Game 1

Pacific needed 12 innings to earn its first win of the 2025 season as the Boxers edged Linfeld 3-2 in the series opener.

Trailing 2-1, Pacific tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on an RBI double to left field by Koester. Riz Collado then scored on a walk-off single by Matthew Pavao with two outs in the bottom of the 12th.

Matt Palmateer threw two perfect innings to earn the win.

After starter Governor Aufranc allowed six hits and two runs in 6 1/3 innings, the Boxer bullpen shut out Linfield over 5 2/3 innings. 

Game 2

Linfield evened the series with a 7-5 win in game two.

The Wildcats scored two runs in the sixth and three more in the seventh to take control of the contest. 

Down 7-2, Pacific scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth.

Hamura was 1-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Pavao and Trevor Kazahaya both doubled in the loss. Koester and Chapman each had two hits.

Next: The Boxers play at Pacific Lutheran on March 22-23. Pacific is back home on March 29-30 against Whitworth.

For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Instagram and Twitter.
 
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