ORANGE, Calif. – Pacific opened the 2026 softball season Friday with a two-game sweep against one of the top teams in the country.
Playing at Chapman, which won two NCAA regional games last season, the Boxers took game one 6-1 before securing a 6-5 victory in game two.
Game 1
Pacific jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning on a Chloe Knepp home run.
Those two runs were all the support Pacific pitcher Kiara Baba needed. The junior threw a complete-game shutout, holding the Panthers to four hits while walking three and striking out nine.
The Boxers added a run in the fifth inning and three more in the seventh.
At the plate, Knepp went 2-for-4 with three RBIs, while Jordan Ingram finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Pacific totaled nine hits and took advantage of five Chapman errors.
Game 2
The Boxers trailed 4-3 entering the seventh inning, but Rylie Kihara scored the tying run on a sacrifice fly by Ingram to force extra innings.
Kimberly Ray then drove in two runs in the eighth inning with a single to right field.
Making her first start for Pacific, junior Alissa Hermansen pitched all eight innings to earn the win.
Kayla Kodani went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. Ingram finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Next: Pacific plays at Whittier on Saturday in a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.
For the latest information on Pacific Athletics, make sure to check out GoBoxers.com. You can also find the Boxers on social media at @GoBoxers on Instagram and Twitter.
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