FOREST GROVE, Ore.  – An inability to deliver in the clutch for the third straight game and an eighth-inning error that paved the way for three unearned runs cost the George Fox University Bruins a 4-1 loss to the Pacific University Boxers in a Northwest Conference baseball game Monday night here at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.

The Bruins fell to 11-5 overall and 2-4 in the NWC after being swept in a conference series for only the third time in 16 seasons in the league.  The Boxers improved to 11-5 overall and 7-2 in the conference.  The game had been postponed for a day due to wet weather on Sunday.

The game began as a pitchers' duel between George Fox right-hander Brian Davis and Pacific southpaw Chad Fahey (2-1).  The Boxers got one run in the first when Kevin Schwartz doubled down the left-field line and scored on a double to right-center by Jared Van Hoon.  The Bruins tied it in the fifth as Dan Winterstein doubled down the left-field line, was sacrificed to third by Taylor Hunter, and scored on Sam Stahl's infield single that just eluded hurler Fahey.

Davis worked 6.1 innings, allowing five hits while striking out three and walking two.  He left in the seventh after walking Mike Nagamine and hitting Trux French in favor of Andrew Snyder (2-1), who induced Michael Arakaki into a 1-4-3 inning-ending double play.

In the Pacific eighth, Scott Rowland led off with a single to right and moved up on a wild pitch.  Snyder fanned pinch-hitter Anson Arakaki, but Travis Koon reached on a throwing error at short, the Bruins' first error in the series.  Schwartz hit into a 6-4 forceout, but Van Hoon singled up the middle to drive in pinch-runner Quin Moore with the go-ahead run. Nate Rasmussen walked to load the bases, and Nagamine greeted reliever Jacob Brown with a solid single to center for two insurance runs.

Fahey worked into the ninth, scattering seven hits while fanning eight and walking six.  Van Hoon came on with one out and one on to get the final two outs on a pop to short and a strikeout for his third save.  The Bruins stranded 11 runners in the game, seven in scoring position, and left 29 on during the entire series.

Winterstein and Stahl had two hits apiece for the Bruins, while Van Hoon and Rowland collected two safeties apiece for the Boxers.

NEXT: George Fox hosts Willamette University in a three-game conference set this weekend, with a doubleheader Saturday at 12:00 noon and a single game Sunday at 1:00 p.m. … Pacific visits Pacific Lutheran University next, with a twinbill on Saturday and a single on Sunday, both starting at 12:00 noon.