Forest Grove, Ore. – The No. 1 seed Pacific Boxers and No. 2 seed Whitworth Pirates advanced to the championship series of the 2025 Northwest Conference Baseball Tournament after strong performances on day two.
Game 1: Whitworth 7, Linfield 3
The second-seeded Whitworth Pirates earned a spot in Game 5 of the tournament with a 7-3 win over Linfield.
Linfield struck first, scoring two unearned runs in the second inning following a Whitworth defensive miscue. The Pirates quickly responded with a solo home run by Aidan Morrison and took control in the fourth inning, plating three runs. They added three more in the fifth, highlighted by back-to-back doubles from Ty Komoda and Caleb Gray.
Despite being outhit 13-11, Whitworth capitalized on key opportunities. Gray led the offense with a 3-for-5 day, while Morrison and NWC Player of the Year Kyle Memarian each collected two hits. Linfield’s Tyler Marr had a game-high 4-for-4 performance. The Wildcats threatened in the seventh by loading the bases with one out, but reliever Quentin O’Connor worked out of the jam and pitched the final three innings to earn the save.
Dylan Huntsman (5-2) earned the win for Whitworth, allowing just one earned run over six-plus innings. Linfield’s Jake Swenson (6-5), the 2025 NWC Pitcher of the Year, took the loss after surrendering six runs in 4.2 innings.
Game 2: Pacific 7, Puget Sound 2
Top-seeded Pacific punched its ticket to a fourth championship appearance in five years with a 7-2 win over third-seeded Puget Sound.
The Boxers jumped ahead early with a two-run homer from fifth-year senior Davis Koester in the first inning. Puget Sound tied it in the fourth with RBI hits from Ryan Spero and Preston Crockett, but Pacific responded quickly. Roz Collado’s RBI double reclaimed the lead, and a two-run single by Benjamin Lewis extended the advantage to 6-2.
Koester led the Boxers offensively, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Governor Aufranc picked up the win, allowing seven hits and two runs over six innings. William Merriott earned the save with three scoreless innings in relief.
Game 3: Whitworth 7, Puget Sound 1
In an elimination game, Whitworth secured its place in the championship series with a commanding 7-1 win over Puget Sound.
The Pirates struck early with two runs in the first and three more in the second, highlighted by a two-run double. Puget Sound’s only run came in the second inning via a solo home run by Kahiua Teruya.
Cal Johnson took the loss for Puget Sound, allowing five runs on six hits. Quentin O’Connor threw a complete game for the Pirates, striking out six and walking just one. Caleb Gray and Kevin Corder each scored twice to pace Whitworth.
The Pacific Boxers and Whitworth Pirates will face off in the championship series on Saturday, May 10th at noon. A second game will follow at 3pm if needed.