FORREST GROVE, Ore. — The Occidental baseball team's offense erupted for 26 runs in a pair of wins at Pacific (Ore.) on Friday.
The Tigers are in the Northwest for a five-game long weekend. Oxy lost to George Fox on Thursday and was rained out against Pacific Lutheran. The Tigers finish their trip against Pacific (Ore.) on Sunday at noon.
Game 1: Occidental 11, Pacific 3
Oxy got hot early and slowly pulled away from the Boxers. The Tigers scored multiple runs in each of their first three innings.
Jack Brancheau was as good as he could be, going 4 for 4 with a triple, three runs scored and two RBIs. JP Flores had a big game, going 3 for 4, Eamon McNeil was 2 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored, Derek Sun was 2 for 5, and Michael Netzel had an RBI double.
Oxy racked up 14 hits as a team.
After a challenging start with three runs given up in the first two innings, Oxy ace Josh Cohen settled in nicely, going 6.1 innings with six strikeouts and just the three runs charged against him. Cade Denyer, Tom Butler and Matthew Geiger combined for a perfect 2.2 innings of relief to finish off the game.
Game 2: Occidental 15, Pacific 6
Oxy racked up 19 hits and 13 RBIs as its bats stayed hot in Game 2. Bryan Smith led the way, going an amazing 5 for 6 with with a run scored and a pair of RBIs. Reid Gibbs went 3 for 6 with three RBIs, Jack Brancheau was 2 for 6 with a run scored, Jack Fredrickson was 2 for 5 with a pair of RBIs and three runs scored, Antonio Andrade scored four runs, Joey Garza was 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs and Michael Netzel went 1 for 4 with a run and two RBIs.
Nolan McCarthy started the game and went 6.1 innings. Tom Butler earned the victory with 1.2 innings of scoreless baseball and Netzel finished off the game with a scoreless ninth.
Oxy turned a close 6-6 game into a blowout with two runs in the eighth and seven more in the ninth.
Season Impact: Oxy improves to 17-12 overall on the season.
Pacific falls to 13-20.
Return to SCIAC: Oxy has a big series coming up against Redlands next weekend.
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