FOREST GROVE, Ore. – A three-run second inning proved to be the difference as Pacific (3-3) edged out Puget Sound (4-3) 3-1 on this afternoon in a tightly contested matchup at Sherman/Larkins Stadium.
Puget Sound struggled to capitalize on opportunities at the plate, managing just four hits in the game. The Loggers' lone run came in the third inning when senior third baseman Savannah Manley led off with a single and later scored on Aislind Dail's sacrifice fly. However, that was all the offense Puget Sound could muster in game one.
Pacific (2-3) did all of its damage in the second inning. After a leadoff single and a stolen base The third baseman delivered the biggest hit of the game, launching a three-run homer to left field.
Despite the early trouble, Puget Sound pitcher Nyomi Estrada (1-3) settled in, tossing six innings of three-hit ball while striking out two. Estrada allowed just one baserunner after the second inning but received no further run support.
Offensively, Puget Sound saw extra power from Kylie Tanimura, who doubled in the sixth, but the Loggers were unable to bring her home. Meanwhile, Pacific's defense held firm, overcoming two errors to secure the win.
In game two, a strong start wasn't enough for the Loggers as they fell to Pacific by a score of 7-1.
Puget Sound wasted no time getting on the board, taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Tanimura singled to right before DP Alyssa Figueroa roped a double to center, putting two runners in scoring position. Center fielder Mikayla Johnson then lifted a sacrifice fly to deep center, allowing Tanimura to cross the plate.
Puget Sound starter Alison Madia was solid through the first four innings but ran into trouble in the fifth. The Boxers strung together a series of key hits, including an RBI double and a run-scoring single.
Despite some early defensive miscues from Pacific (three errors in total), Puget Sound was unable to capitalize, stranding six runners on base throughout the game. Figueroa's first-inning double was the only extra-base hit for the Loggers, who struggled to generate momentum.
The Loggers are back in actions next week in Hawaii, where they first take on Messiah University (DH), then Drew, Sewanee, and SUNY, before finiishing the weekend with a game versus Emory University.
