NWC Softball: Boxers Sweep Series from Bruins

The Boxer staff limited the Bruins to just nine hits in the entire series.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

NEWBERG - Completing a four-game series sweep in which their pitchers did not allow a single run, the Pacific University Boxers blanked the George Fox University Bruins 3-0 and 5-0 in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader Tuesday afternoon at GFU’s Morse Field.

The games were originally scheduled for March 10th at Hillsboro Stadium, but were finally moved to Newberg after two make-up dates were scrubbed due to unplayable field conditions.

Pacific played as the home team in both games.

In the opener, Miranda McNealy (9-2), who came within one walk of a perfect game against the Bruins on Friday, made things almost as difficult this time around, allowing just two hits and striking out 14 to win her ninth straight while running her current scoreless streak to 20.2 innings.

She faced only one batter over the minimum, and at one point struck out eight in a row.

Pacific scored twice in the 3rd for all the runs McNealy would need.

Alicia Hawes led off the frame with a single and scored two batters later on Kelly Nishitomi’s single through the middle.

Nishitomi stole second and third and Brooke Fogwell followed with an RBI single.

Amy Walters accounted for a run in the 4th, doubling to open the inning and scoring on Kim Whittaker’s sacrifice fly.

McNealy was perfect through five innings, but Jessica Cardwell break up the no-hitter in the 6th when she led off with a sharp single to left field.

Kayla Winkler had the only other hit of the game in the 7th, a line drive off the glove of third baseman Fogwell, but she was erased when Ashley Olson lined into a game-ending double play.

Winkler (3-11) took the loss for the Bruins, allowing three runs on six hits and four walks with seven strikeouts in the route-going performance.

Kristen Croxford wasted no time in putting the Boxers ahead in game two, drilling her third home run of the season over the center field fence in the bottom of the 1st.

Fogwell drove in two runs in the 5th with a double to left-center that scored Croxford and Nishitomi.

Hawes added two more in the 6th with her first home run of the season over the left-field fence.

Pacific hurler Andrea Bansen (4-3) went the distance, allowing just four hits while striking out two.

The Boxer staff limited the Bruins to just nine hits in the entire series.

Winkler (3-12) again went all the way for the Bruins, allowing five runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Weatherman went 3-for-3 in the second game to lead George Fox at the plate, while Nishitomi had a pair of hits for Pacific.

George Fox (5-21, NWC 3-15) plays a four-game series this weekend with Linfield College, playing two in Newberg Saturday and two in McMinnville Sunday, both at noon.

Pacific (16-6, 8-4 NWC) hosts Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday at 2:00 PM and the University of Puget Sound on Sunday at noon for conference twinbills.

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