FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Too many missed opportunities at the plate and an untimely error that resulted in three unearned runs was enough to mar a well-pitched game by George Fox University's Tom Zarosinski as the Bruins bowed to the Pacific University Boxers 3-0 in Northwest Conference baseball action Sunday afternoon here at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
Though they took the series two games to one, the loss knocked the Bruins into a tie for second in the NWC with Linfield College, both at 5-1 in league play. George Fox is 12-5 overall. Whitworth University, which has played one less NWC series than everyone else, is in first place, percentage-wise, at 3-0 after sweeping the University of Puget Sound over the weekend. The win by Pacific snapped a season-opening 11-game losing streak for the Boxers, who improved to 1-11 overall and 1-5 in the NWC.
At the plate, the Bruins had their chances against Pacific hurler Matt Delegato (1-1), who threw his first complete game while allowing seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts. He also coaxed 14 Bruins' batters into fly outs and stranded 10 men on base, five in scoring position.
George Fox had runners on first and second with one out in the 4th when Zach Hegelmeyer lined into a double play to end the threat. The Bruins had the bases loaded with one out in the 6th on two walks and a bunt single by Danny Clifford, but Zac Israel hit back to the mound, resulting in the force play at home, and Hegelmeyer struck out to end the inning.
Pacific, meanwhile, managed just four hits against Zarosinski (1-3), who struck out seven and walked one in going the distance and did not allow a Boxer past second base until an ill-fated bottom of the 6th. Donnie Bradley drew a leadoff walk to open the frame, then Zarosinski hit both Charlie Gaff and Walker Olis to load the bases. Logan Moen struck out and the Bruins picked up the second out when Bradley was tagged out on a botched squeeze play.
George Fox appeared to be out of the inning when Nick Garrett hit a ground ball to shortstop, but the ball was bobbled as Gaff scored the go-ahead run. Michael Arakaki took advantage of the break to line a two-run single to left-center to give the Boxers a much-needed cushion, and Delegato made it stand up the rest of the way, allowing only two Bruin base runners over the last three innings.
Arakaki went 2-for-3 with two RBIs to lead the Boxers at the plate, while Timothy Williams was 2-for-2 to pace the Bruins.
NEXT: George Fox hosts Willamette University for a three-game conference series next weekend, with a doubleheader Saturday at 12:00 noon and a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m. Live stats and live audio streaming by campus station KFOX radio will be provided for the entire series ... Pacific travels to Lewis & Clark College for a three-game NWC series as well, with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11:00 a.m., and a single game on Sunday beginning at 1:00 p.m. .