TACOMA, Wash.—After two postponements – including one for a lack of umpires – the Puget Sound and Pacific softball clubs finally wrapped up their season series against each other Thursday with a set of two "road" games for the Loggers on Logger Field in Tacoma, Wash. Puget Sound was the designated road team for both games, batting first despite playing on their home field since they had enjoyed the last at-bat in the previous two contests against the Boxers this season.
Game 1: Pacific 5, Puget Sound 1
The Boxers led the game off with a double down the left field line from Becca Moen, who later scored on a single from Rena Natividad to give the Boxers an early 1-0 lead.
The Loggers responded in the top of the fourth, getting a walk from Bailee Larson to lead off the inning. Olivia Turner came in to run for Larson and advanced to second off of a sacrifice bunt from Chelsea Lindroth. A ground out from Jaci Young advanced Turner to third, and Kristi Nagamine was able to bring her home on an RBI single to right field.
The Boxers found another run in the bottom of the fourth from a lead off homerun by Emmie Moser. They brought in three more runs in fifth from an RBI single from Rachel Roberts and a two run homer from Kylee Oshiro. After the fifth, the designated home squad enjoyed a 5-1 advantage, a score that held until the end of the game.
Taylor Jones hit 2-for-3 with one walk in game one, and Nagamine tallied the Loggers' one RBI. In the circle, Young pitched all 6.0 innings for the Loggers, striking out two Pacific batters.
Game 2: Pacific 6, Puget Sound 1
The Loggers found an early lead in game two of the doubleheader with Nagamine reaching first off of a fielding error in the second at bat of the game. Puget Sound three-hole hitter Lisa Colombo then ripped a double to right center to bring home Nagamine. Pacific responded quickly in the bottom of the frame, bringing across three runs before pitcher Megan Campbell got the Boxers to strand two runners on base.
The Boxers picked up two more runs in the top of the fourth and one more in each of the fifth and sixth. Puget Sound rallied in the top of the seventh with a two-out walk for Jones. She then got into scoring position via a single to right field from Nagamine. Unfortunately the senior could not advance any further and the game ended 6-1.
Six different Loggers combined to make up the squad's six hits in game two, with Colombo bringing in the team's only RBI.
Puget Sound (2-28, 1-23 NWC) now enters its final weekend of the season, playing a home-and-home series with cross-town rival Pacific Lutheran. The Loggers host Saturday, April 12's doubleheader with the Lutes and will honor Jenica Holt, Jones, and Lindroth as a part of senior day ceremonies. Those three seniors will be playing their last collegiate games on Logger Field Saturday. On Sunday, April 13, the Loggers end the season with a doubleheader at Pacific Lutheran in Parkland, Wash.
