Boxers Eanr Split With Bruins In Bonus Home Twinbill

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Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score

FOREST GROVE – Earning an extra home series thanks to unplayable field conditions at George Fox's Morse Field, Pacific used some home magic and some solid pitching from Rob Dittrick (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii) to earn a Northwest Conference doubleheader split with the Bruins Saturday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
 
Dittrick went the distance in the opener, striking out seven while Jared Van Hoon (Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) and Nate Rasmussen (Sr., Sandy, Utah) each had three-hit performances to lead the Boxers to a 7-1 win over the Bruins.  The nightcap, however, belonged to the Bruins as Josh Rapacz keyed a pair of two-run innings to pace a 6-5 win.
 
Van Hoon put together another solid day at the plate, finishing 6 for 10 in the twinbill with three runs scored and a double.  The split improved Pacific to 6-9 overall, 3-2 NWC, while George Fox improved to 7-10, 3-2 NWC.
 
The doubleheader was moved to Forest Grove after George Fox's home field, Morse Field, was deemed unplayable due to wet field conditions.  The Bruins played as the home team in both contests.
 
GAME 1- PACIFIC 7, GEORGE FOX 1         
While it was not Dittrick's prettiest outing, he succeeded in keeping the Bruins well off balance to earn his third win in his second complete game of the season.  Dittrick allowed one run on seven hits and struck out seven, but walked two and hit six batters to finish one short of the Pacific single game record.
 
Once again, though, Pacific excelled in situational hitting to break things open early.  Jared Van Hoon (Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) opened a three-run second inning when he scored from second on a single by Logan Moen (Jr., Brier, Wash.) that glanced off the glove of George Fox starting pitcher Brian Ranta.  Moen then scored on a fielder's choice and Nate Rasmussen (Sr., Sandy, Utah) plated when Ranta was called for a balk.
 
Chad Fahey (Sr., Keizer, Ore.) opened the Boxers' two-run fourth when he singled to left field and scored on a throwing error off Van Hoon's single to right field.  Van Hoon scored two batters later on Moen's double to left field.
 
George Fox scored their only run of the game with two outs in the home half of the third.  David Greenstein started the rally with a single through the right side and scored Josh Rapacz's single to right.
 
Pacific added a single run in the seventh when Greg Tellez's (Sr., White Salmon, Wash.) two-out double scored Nick Tasaka (Jr., Hawaii Kai, Hawaii).  Rasmussen led off the eighth with a double to left center field and scored when reliever Carl Mason was called for a balk.
 
Ranta took his first loss of the season on the mound for George Fox, allowing five runs on nine hits with three walks and five strikeouts in six innings of work.  Van Hoon led Pacific offensively, going 3 for 5 with two runs and a double.  Fahey and Moen each finished with two hits apiece.  Rapacz went 2 for 4 to lead the Bruins.
 
GAME 2 – GEORGE FOX 6, PACIFIC 5
It was George Fox's turn to jump out to the early lead in the second game as they scored two off of Pacific starter Jason Sawyer (So., Scappoose, Ore.) in the top of the first.  Todd Nagamine opened the game with a leadoff walk and scored on Rapacz's single through the left side.  Rapacz then scored on single by Timothy Williams.
 
The Bruins manufactured single runs in the second and third.  Danny Clifford led off the second with a single through the left side and later scored on a sacrifice fly.  Nick Benish came through with a two-out double in the third and scored on a single down the left field line by Clifford.
 
Pacific cut the lead to 4-3 with one swing of the back as Tasaka lined a three-run homer over the right field wall in the top of the fifth inning.  The Bruins responded with two runs in the home half as Rapacz scored on a double to center field by Benish and Williams scored on a sacrifice fly.
 
Pacific added to their comeback attempt with two runs in the seventh.  Fahey picked up a leadoff walk and advanced to third on an error.  He scored on a double play ball before Rasmussen followed with a solo home run off the left field foul pole.  The Boxers had runners on in both the eighth and the ninth, but were unable to score.
 
Taylor Dunn earned the win for George Fox to improve to 2-1 on the season.  He allowed three runs on seven hits with a walk and three strikeouts in five innings of work.  Alex Keenan earned the save, allowing one hit and one walk while striking out four in two innings.  Sawyer took his second loss of the season by allowing four runs on seven hits with one walk in three innings.
 
Rapacz added another three hits to lead George Fox while Benish and Clifford each finished with two hits.  Van Hoon went 3 for 5 to lead the Boxers.
 
Pacific and George Fox will finish their three-game series with a single game on Sunday at noon.  Once again, the game will be played at Chuck Bafaro Stadium with George Fox playing as the home team.