After falling just short in Game 1, the Pacific baseball team responded in emphatic fashion Friday afternoon, riding a dominant pitching performance and early offensive surge to an 11-1 victory over the Milwaukee School of Engineering at Chuck Bafaro Stadium to earn a split of the doubleheader.
Pacific dropped the opener 4-3 despite out-hitting MSOE 12-9 and leaving eight runners on base. Will Shelor paced the offense in Game 1, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run, while Miles Bergman added two hits and an RBI. Hunter Nishina delivered a pinch-hit RBI single in the eighth to bring the Boxers within one, but Pacific could not complete the comeback. Starter Governor Aufranc worked 6 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits with six strikeouts.
The Boxers wasted no time turning the page in Game 2.
Pacific broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the second inning, providing all the support Nicholas Saelens would need. The sophomore pitcher was dominant, allowing just one hit and one unearned run while striking out 11 over eight innings.
MSOE's lone hit came on an infield single in the third inning. The Raiders' only run scored in the fifth after a deep fly ball to center deflected off the glove of Nishina, allowing the runner to advance and later score on a groundout.
Pacific's offense stayed aggressive, finishing with 11 hits from eight different players. Javin Hamura went 2-for-4 with a double and three RBIs, Benjamin Lewis finished 2-for-3 with a walk and a triple while scoring twice, and Shelor crossed the plate three times.
The game ended early in the bottom of the eighth when Nishina launched a walk-off two-run homer to right field, sealing the run-rule victory and an emphatic response from the Boxers.
Next: Pacific opens Northwest Conference play on Saturday, Feb. 28 at home against Willamette.
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