Dittrick, Bradley Lead Boxers To NWC Opening Split With Linfield

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Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

FOREST GROVE – Pacific rode the rock steady arm of Rob Dittrick (Jr., Mililani Hawaii) and the well-timed hitting of Donnie Bradley (Fr., Beaverton, Ore.) to a doubleheader split with defending Northwest Conference champion Linfield Saturday in baseball action at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
 
Dittrick threw a complete game five-hitter in the opener, giving up just one solo home run in the ninth inning, while Bradley delivered with a pair of two-run singles to lead the Boxers to a 7-1 victory over the No. 2 ranked Wildcats.  Chad Fahey (Sr., Keizer, Ore.) added three hits in the Boxers' first NWC win of the year.
 
Linfield got back in their offensive groove in the nightcap, using a three-run fourth inning to build the momentum they needed for a 6-3 win.  Tim Wilson had three hits to lead the Wildcats while Kevin Allan and Kyle Chamberlain each had two hits and two runs batted in.  Jared Van Hoon (Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Boxers and finished with three total for the afternoon.
 
With the split, Pacific improved to 4-8, 1-1 NWC.  Linfield climbed to 7-2, 4-1 NWC.
 
GAME 1 – PACIFIC 7, LINFIELD 1
Dittrick was in control throughout the contest, limiting Linfield to just three hits over the first seven innings of the contest.  He walked just two and struck out five to improve to 2-1 on the season.
 
Bradley keyed a two-out rally for the Boxers in the second inning.  Michael Arakaki (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii) singled and advanced to third when Jordan Siu (Jr., Redmond, Wash.) reached on an error.  Bradley followed with his long single to right field to score the pair and stake the Boxers to a 2-0 lead.
 
Pacific blew the game open with a five-run fifth.  The Boxers loaded the bases with singles by Mike Nagamine (Sr., Aiea, Hawaii) and Siu and a hitter batter, setting the table for Bradley to hit another two-run single up the middle that bounced just out of the reach of Linfield shortstop Michael Hopp.  Wildcats' reliever Chris Haddeland then proceed to issue three bases loaded free passes, walking Fahey while hitting Nick Tasaka (Jr., Hawaii Kai, Hawaii) and Greg Tellez (Sr., White Salmon, Wash.) to make it a 7-0 game.
 
Linfield never saw more than four batters come to the plate in the first eight innings.  Kramer Lindell provided the Wildcats' only run with his leadoff home run to left center in the ninth.
 
Manley took the loss for Linfield, dropping to 1-1 on the season by allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits with a walk and seven strikeouts in 5.1 inning.
 
GAME 2 – LINFIELD 6, PACIFIC 3
Pacific made their bid for a rare sweep of the Wildcats with a three-run third inning.  Kevin Schwartz (Sr., Milwaukie, Ore.) and Tasaka knocked a pair of two-out singles and Van Hoon scored them both with a two-run double that hit off the base of the center field wall.  Tellez followed with a single to right field to score Van Hoon from second.
 
Linfield responded in a kind with a three-run frame of their own in the top of the fourth.  Chamberlain singled and Clayton Truex walked to open the frame.  Allan followed two runs later with a double down the left field line to score the pair.  Kenny Johnson came up next and added a single to right, which proved long enough to score Allan from second.
 
Pacific's offense would be shut out completely when Wildcats' starter Zach Brandon yielded the mound to Robert Vaughn in the fourth.  He proceeded to hold the Boxers hitless over the final six innings, walking two and striking out six to earn his first win of the season.
 
That allowed the Wildcats to go ahead with single runs in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.  Allan doubled to lead off the sixth and later scored on a sacrifice fly.  Lindell reached in the seventh when he was hit by a pitch and scored on single to center field by Chamberlain.  Johnson scored in the eighth on a two-out bases loaded walk.
 
Fahey took the loss for the Boxers to drop to 1-1 on the season.  He allowed four runs on six hits with four walks and two strikeouts in six innings of work.
 
Pacific and Linfield will conclude their three-game series on Sunday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.  First pitch is scheduled for noon.