NWC Softball: Oregon Small College Pitcher Throws No-Hitter

George Fox (5-19, NWC 3-13) hosts Willamette University Saturday.

Miranda McNealy threw a no-hitter against George Fox on Friday. Photo: Boxers Athletics

NEWBERG - Miranda McNealy threw a first-game no-hitter and Andrea Bansen followed it with a two-hitter, leading the Pacific University Boxers to a 3-0 and 9-0 doubleheader sweep of the George Fox University Bruins in Northwest Conference softball Friday afternoon at Morse Field.

McNealy (8-2), last week’s NWC Pitcher of the Week, was almost perfect as she allowed only one runner in the opener, walking Nikki Morrison with one out in the 4th inning.

She struck out 12, getting every hitter in the Bruin lineup except leadoff hitter Kerstyn Tsuruda at least once on strikes.

George Fox hurler Kayla Winkler (3-9) went the distance as well, scattering seven hits with three strikeouts and four walks.

All the runs she allowed were unearned due to four Bruin errors in the field.

The Boxers got the only run McNealy would need in the 3rd when Kristin Larkins reached on an error, pinch-runner Melissa Meads advanced on a sacrifice and a steal of third, and scored on a sacrifice fly to left by Amy Walters.

The visitors added two insurance runs in the 5th when Brittany Cuff doubled to score Brooke Fogwell and Walters, who had reached on a two-out error and a walk.

In the nightcap, the Boxers collected 12 hits and nine walks off three Bruin hurlers, with Winkler (3-10) starting and taking the loss.

Bansen (3-3) fanned five and walked three, allowing a double to Tsuruda to lead off the 1st and an infield single by Haley Harnish-Stadden in the 5th.

Kristen Croxford led off the game with her second home run of the season to get the Boxer offense going, and Kelly Nishitomi singled in Heather Ritenour in the 2nd.

Larkins had a two-run double in the 5th, Fogwell singled in a run and another scored on a ground out in the 6th, and the Boxers salted the game away in the 7th with three runs, all on bases-loaded walks.

George Fox (5-19, NWC 3-13) hosts Willamette University Saturday in a conference twinbill at noon.

Pacific (14-6, NWC 6-4) hosts Lewis & Clark College in a conference pair at noon Saturday at Hillsboro Stadium.

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