Looking to secure a spot in the upcoming Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament, the Pacific baseball team put itself in contention for the final spot with a series opening 12-2 win over Puget Sound.

The Boxers (21-16, 13-9 NWC), who need a series sweep to secure the final spot, got a solid all-around contribution in the win. Pacific starting pitcher Casey Brown pitched his fifth complete game of the season, striking out 11 to match a season-high in the win to raise his record to 6-2.

Brown picked up 12 runs of support on 16 hits including three each from Derek Legeza and Ryan Krout to lead a Pacific offense. Krout drove in five runs and Eli Wisdom added two hits and three RBIs in the win.

After a scoreless first two innings, the Boxer offense erupted for three runs in the third inning against Puget Sound starter Davis Miller, who allowed nine hits and six runs (all earned) in the loss to fall to 2-4.

The Loggers (9-25, 8-14 NWC) managed a run each in the fourth and fifth inning. Mason Quinlan, Kyle Strash and Jack Gries each had two hits lead a Puget Sound squad that had eight hits but stranded eight base runners in the loss.

In eight of the nine innings, Brown had a strikeout including where he managed to strike out the side in the eighth. Pacific managed two runs each in the fourth and sixth, four in the seventh and a run in the eighth en route to the win.

The two teams conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. Prior to the game, Pacific will honor its seniors.