Box Score

NEWBERG, Ore. – A pair of late two-run innings, keyed by three-hit performances by Anson Arakaki (Sr., Hilo, Hawaii) and Walker Olis (Fr., Burlington, Wash.), was not enough to rally Pacific Sunday as the Boxers dropped an 8-4 decision to George Fox in the NWC-Cascade Challenge at Morse Field.
 
Olis accounted for the Boxers' first two runs in the seventh inning, hitting a two-out bases loaded single up the middle to score Charlie Gaff(Fr., Stockton, Calif.) and Justin Strayer (Fr., Ventura, Calif.).  Arakaki repeated the feat in the eighth inning, doubling to left field with the bases loaded and two out to score Logan Moen (Sr., Brier, Wash.) and Austin Gallagher (So., Lake Oswego, Ore.).
 
The four runs were not enough to swing momentum away from the Bruins, who led 3-0 after six innings and broke the game open with a five-run bottom of the seventh.
 
Both Arakaki and Olis went 3 for 5 with the two RBIs each to lead the Boxers (0-6), who pounded out 12 hits in the contest but left 10 on base.  Gaff finished with a 2 for 4 afternoon.
 
George Fox (7-4), playing just their second home game on Morse Field in nearly two years, opened scoring in the second inning.  Kyle Kirwan reached on a one-out walk, advanced by way of an error and a fielder's choice before scoring on Matthew Zeller's single to third base. 
 
The Bruins scored again in the fifth when Derek Dixon reached on a fielder's choice and scored on a single by Kirwan.  Zach Miller accounted for the third run in the sixth, reaching on a two-out walk and scoring on Josh Rapacz's double to left.
 
Strayer opened the Boxers' seventh with a one-out pinch-hit single to right, which Gaff followed up with a single to right.  Donnie Bradley(So., Beaverton, Ore.) walked with two outs to lead the bases, which allowed Olis to deliver his two-run single through the left side to cut the lead to 3-2.
 
But the Bruins replied with a five-run seventh that put the game out of reach. Zach Hegelmeyer opened the scoring with single to shortstop that scored Derek Dixon.  Jared Chase followed with a single to left field that scored two.  Two batters later, Miller added a single to left to score Chase and Rapacz closed it when his sacrifice fly plated Zeller.
 
Moen opened the Boxers' two-run seventh with a one-out single.  Austin followed with a single to right and Dan Jaffe (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) walked to lead the bases.  After Gaff flied out, Arakaki delivered his double to left field, scoring Gallagher and Moen.  Jaffe tried to score from first, only to be thrown out at the plate.
 
Clay Gartner earned his first win of the season for the Bruins, allowing two runs on eight hits with four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.  Tyler Kotchik (So., Beaverton, Ore.) took the loss in his first start of the season for the Boxers, allowing two runs, one earned, on nine hits with three walks and two strikeouts in five innings.  Zeller led George Fox offensively, going 4 for 5 with a run and a RBI.
 
Pacific will now enter the Northwest Conference season looking for their first win of the season.  The Boxers open league play next weekend with a three-game series at Linfield.