The Pacific softball team scored first in both games of Friday's Northwest Conference doubleheader. But the Boxers could not hold on in an upset bid against No. 3 Linfield, falling 6-3 in Game 1 and 9-1 in Game 2.
Pacific left a combined 22 runners on base in the two losses.
Game 1: Linfield 6, Pacific 3
With two outs in the bottom of the first inning, Libby Hardee singled and then scored on a Chloe Knepp RBI base hit to give Pacific an early 1-0 lead. However, the Boxers left the bases loaded, and Linfield answered with three runs in the top of the second inning and three more in the fifth.
Hardee finished 3-for-3 with a walk and scored two runs. Kimberly Ray went 2-for-3 with an RBI double in the fifth inning, while Jordan Ingram added an RBI double in the sixth.
The Boxers outhit Linfield 10-7 but left 12 runners on base.
Game 2: Linfield 9, Pacific 1
Kiara Baba shut out the Wildcats through five innings, and Hardee delivered an RBI double to left field to give Pacific a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth. However, Linfield responded with a three-run homer in the top of the sixth and added six more runs in the seventh to complete the sweep.
The Boxers left 10 more runners on base in the loss.
Hardee finished 2-for-4. Baba pitched six innings, allowing five hits and three earned runs while recording seven strikeouts.
Next:Â The Boxers conclude the series with Linfield on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m.
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