By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- A wild, offense-heavy contest between the Bruins and Pacific University on Tuesday night saw a total of 14 different pitchers between the two teams. Unfortunately for the Bruins, Mason Dunning's homer and a 2-4 night from Gabe Louthan was not quite enough, as Pacific carried the day, 8-5.

AJ Valencia also had two hits for the Bruins, and five different Bruins knocked in runs. Reliever Nathan Higa took the loss for the Bruins, despite not officially pitching an inning.

Things began well for the Bruins. Clay Mott's RBI groundout in the second brought in Brandon Wileman with the game's first run, and Valencia's single made the lead 2-0. With starter Michael Hirko throwing well – he'd finish with two-and-two-thirds scoreless innings pitched – and Dunning's massive home run in the fifth, the Bruins seemed comfortable.

In the sixth, Nathan Suyematsu's single got one back for Pacific, but George Fox responded again. In the bottom of the sixth, Louthan roped a single to center to score Riley McKean, and Louthan soon came around on Kyle Esquerra's perfectly placed single, giving the Bruins a 5-1 lead.

The Bruins' wheels came off, though, in the seventh. A walk and two hit-by-pitches loaded the bases for Pacific, and Nathan Higa could not stop the rally. Then, a single and two back-to-back walks plated three runs for Pacific, cutting the Bruins' lead to 5-4. Camden Muller relieved Higa, but he immediately gave up a double and a single, letting Pacific tie the game with zero outs recorded. A double play finally gave the Bruins life, but the run that scored on the play gave Pacific an 8-5 lead, which they never relinquished.

The loss drops the Bruins to 14-18 on the season, with a doubleheader at Lewis & Clark ahead on Saturday.