Box Score By: Ryan Lackey
FOREST GROVE, Ore. --- Five solid innings from starter Taylor Dunn and a 2-5 performance from shortstop Clay Mott lifted the Bruins over the Pacific University Boxers on Sunday afternoon, 4-0.
With the win, the Bruins took three in a row over two days from the Boxers, beginning their Northwest Conference schedule with a series sweep.
The Bruins threatened from the first, stringing together back-to-back singles from Mott and Zach Rapacz, but Ansel Webster grounded into a double play to end the inning. George Fox had to wait until the top of the third to break the deadlock. With two outs, Clay Mott, who'd reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and Zach Rapacz walked to give Webster a chance with two runners on. Webster delivered, placing a seeing-eye single through the left side to plate the sprinting Mott to open the scoring, 1-0. Jake Thran stepped up next and lined a base hit to left to score Rapacz, and the Bruins took a 2-0 lead into the fourth.
In the fourth, the Bruins doubled their lead. Kadyn Nannini catalyzed the rally with a leadoff single, and Gabe Louthan reached on an error by the pitcher on his sacrifice bunt; Nannini went to third. With runners on the corners, Boxers reliever Joey Angyus fired a wild pitch well wide of the target, and Nannini scampered home. With Louthan now on third, Wileman grounded out, but Mott brought Louthan home on a fielder's choice to make the score 4-0.
Pacific came the closest to scoring in the sixth, when Dylan Wright walked and his pinch-runner, Ryan Sohn, made it to third on a pair of groundouts. With two outs and Sohn on third, Bruins reliever Michael Hirko blew a third strike by three-hitter Walker Olis.
Mott finished 2-5 for the Bruins with an RBI. Rapacz went 1-3 with a run, and first baseman Jake Thran ended the game 2-3 with an RBI. Kadyn Nannini also bagged two hits. Starter Taylor Dunn secured the victory to even his record at 1-1.
The Bruins stand at 5-5 on the year and 3-0 in NWC play. The Bruins will look to extend their streak on Saturday, February 28th during their home opener with Willamette. The games will be played at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
