Box Score

FOREST GROVE – Chad Fahey (Sr., Keizer, Ore.), Kevin Schwartz (Sr., Milwaukie, Ore.) and Jared Van Hoon (Sr., Lake Oswego, Ore.) led the way on senior day Sunday as Pacific picked up their 20th win of the season with a 5-2 victory over Puget Sound in Northwest Conference baseball action at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
 
Fahey allowed two runs on six hits with six strikeouts in 8.1 innings of work to earn his fifth win of the season in his final game at home.  Schwartz had a big day at the plate, going 3 for 4 with three runs batted in while Van Hoon came on to retire the last batter of the game for his third save of the year.
 
The victory gave the Boxers (20-14, 17-4 NWC) their second straight 20-win season and the team's third in the last five years.  It also gave Head Coach Greg Bradley his 296th victory in his 17 years as Boxers' skipper.  Most importantly, the victory allowed Pacific to maintain their one-game win over Whitworth, who completed a sweep at Willamette on Sunday.
 
Fahey held the Loggers (9-26-1, 5-16 NWC) scoreless over the first eight innings, but had to get out of an early jam in the second inning.  Bobby Hosmer led off the frame with a single, Kaulana Smith reached on an error and Johnny Hosmer loaded the bases when he was hit by pitch.  Fahey rebounded to strike the next two batters out looking, both on 3 ball, 2 strike counts, before coaxing Casey Coberly into a ground out to erase the threat.
 
Donnie Bradley (Fr., Beaverton, Ore.) put Pacific on the board in the third when he laid down a bunt single and then scored from first on a Schwartz double that landed at the base of the left center field wall.
 
Puget Sound also managed to load the bases in the fifth on a lead-off walk, a two-out double by Connor Savage and a walk.  Fahey ended that threat with a strikeout of designated hitter Jeff Walton.
 
Pacific scored their winning runs in a three-run bottom of the fifth.  Michael Arakaki (Jr., Mililani, Hawaii) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, Jordan Siu (Jr., Redmond, Wash.) followed with a single and Bradley was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  That set Schwartz up for a long single to left to score a pair.  Nick Tasaka (Jr., Hawaii Kai, Hawaii) followed with sacrifice fly that brought home Bradley.
 
To secure the win, Pacific had to hold off a spirited Puget Sound rally in the ninth.  Johnny Hosmer led off with a single, pinch-hitter Christian Carter added a one-out single and Coberly drove in the Loggers' first run when his single off of Fahey's foot scored Johnny Hosmer.
 
Savage followed with a single to left off of reliever Kyle Treadway (Fr., Phoenix, Ore.).  Will Mentor grounded out, but designated hitter Tucker Barney walked to extend the inning.  Van Hoon came on to strike out Bobby Hosmer to end the game.
 
Lucas Stone took the loss for Puget Sound to drop to 1-7 on the year.  He allowed four runs on six hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 6.1 innings of work.  Savage went 3 for 5 to lead the Loggers at the plate.
 
The NWC championship race will come down to an exciting final weekend.  Pacific needs a combination of two Pacific wins and Whitworth losses to clinch a share of their first league title since 1979 and a combination of three to earn the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III Tournament.  The Boxers play three at Pacific Lutheran next weekend, while Whitworth hosts Whitman for a three-game set.  Puget Sound ends the season with a three-game series at home against Willamette.