CARRIE MAERZ
4 Hits For Boxers
4 Hits For Boxers
Boxers Drop Openers At Northwest Cup
Summary:
Softball: Loss : 7-6 | Stats
Softball: Loss : 5-3 | Stats
Pacific found themselves the victim of timely hitting and big innings as the Boxers dropped their softball season openers to the College of Idaho and British Columbia
CLACKAMAS, Ore. – Pacific found themselves stymied by a big inning and a late rally as the Boxers dropped their softball season openers Saturday in the Northwest Cup Tournament at Hood View Park.
The College of Idaho used a home run by Caylin Lepire to punctuate a five-run third inning, providing all of the offense needed for the Coyotes’ 5-3 victory. In the nightcap, British Columbia broke a 6-6 tie with a game-winning double in the bottom of the seventh to give the Thunderbirds a 7-6 win.
After a scoreless first two innings in the opener, College of Idaho (1-0) opened the third with a pair of walks and scored two runs on a RBI single by Dani Willyard and sacrifice fly by Kristen Haugen. That set the table for Lepire, who hit her two-run shot to left field for a 4-0 advantage. Molly Mills added a fifth tally when she reached on an error, stole second and came home on a single by Nikki Shumway.
Pacific finally got on the board with a three-run fifth. Kelly Nishitomi (Sr., Kaneohe, Hawaii) opened scoring with a bases loaded single that scored Brooke Toy (Jr., Drain, Ore.). Brooke Fogwell (Sr., Beaverton, Ore.) followed with a two-out single up the middle to score Jenna Scribner (So., Forest Grove, Ore.) and Teri Shigeno (So., Meridian, Idaho). Pacific had base runners in both the sixth and seventh, but could not advance past first base.
Jody Zillner went the distance to earn the win for the Coyotes, allowing the three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out 14. Miranda McNealy (Sr., Aloha, Ore.) took the loss, allowing five runs, four earned, on three hits and seven walks while striking out three in 4.1 innings. Fogwell and Carrie Maerz (Jr., Newberg, Ore.) each had two hits to lead the Boxers.
Pacific once again found themselves coming from behind in their game with British Columbia (2-4) as the Thunderbirds tallied four runs in the first thanks in part to six walks. After scoring the first run on a passed ball, Tanya McLean scored on a two-out bases loaded walk. Chelsey Rodgers then doubled the advantage with a two-run single that scored Molly Gosnell and Brittany Meyer.
Pacific took three runs back in the second on a RBI single by Shigeno, a Stephanie Vanoudenhaegen (Jr., Cornelius, Ore.) fielder’s choice and an error. The Boxers took the lead in the fifth, scoring a pair on a sacrifice fly and a double to center by Ashley Billingsley (So., Gresham, Ore.).
The teams traded runs in the fifth and sixth before the Thunderbirds used an error to manufacture the tying run in the bottom of the sixth. Jessica Barclay won it for the Thunderbirds in the bottom of the seventh, doubling to center field to score Lisa Fadden.
Nicole Day earned the win in the circle for British Columbia, allowing one run on four hits with six strikeouts in four innings of relief work. Chelsey Chamberlain (So., Grants Pass, Ore.) took the loss in relief for Pacific, allowing three runs, one earned, on six hits with two strikeouts in 3.2 innings. Nishitomi, Billingsley, Maerz and Jordan Mittelsdorf (So., Boardman, Ore.) each had two hits for the Boxers.
Pacific wraps up its run in the Northwest Cup against two more NAIA foes, taking on Oregon Tech and Northwest Christian on Sunday.
Posted by Blake Timm (timmbr@pacificu.edu) on Feb 20, 2010 at 11:06 PM
