Pacific Index

Meet the players behind Pacific Softball’s hot start to the year

   The year has started strong for Pacific softball, with a whirlwind 5-1 record in their SoCal trip, including notching wins in a two-game series with nationally ranked Chapman, splitting with Whittier, and sweeping Occidental. Boxer softball is the real deal this year, with players transferring in and players returning to a squad which has improved massively from their 8-26 campaign last season. 

   Who’s on the field? 

   Junior Alissa Hermansen is one of the exciting transfers in the pitching rotation. A big reason for Everett Community College last year, Hermansen has transitioned brilliantly to Pacific, already establishing herself as one of the Boxers’ best pitchers with a 2.39 ERA. Hermansen is an Accounting major, and is a big Cal Raleigh fan. “I really like the community Pacific has here with the smaller community and how all the athletic teams support each other,” said Hermansen.

   Her fellow pitcher, Junior Kiara Baba, is having an incredible start to the 2026 season. Baba has gone 2-0 starting on the mound this season with zero earned runs, only allowing six hits, and 14 strikeouts. Baba is studying Environmental Science.

   Senior Chloe Knepp enters her last season as a Boxer, and she is picking up right where she left off from last season. Knepp is averaging .429 from the plate, with two home runs already and nine RBI’s. Knepp is majoring in Psychology, and is a Shohei Ohtani fan.

   Senior Kayla Kodani also enters her final season, and is .364 from the plate. Kodani comes from Hilo, Hawaii and is majoring in Kinesiology.

   Next up is senior Ellie Ishikawa. The Hawaii native has been a starter for much of her career, and is batting at .235 so far this season with 2 RBI’s. This outfielder is studying Business.

   Junior Jordan Ingram is one of two “All-Forest Grove” players on the softball team, along with her twin sister Kaimalino Ingram. Both attended high school in Forest Grove and are now playing for the local college. Jordan Ingram has established herself as a full-time starter this season, starting off the year .409 at the plate with six RBI’s. Ingram is also one of many Kinesiology majors on the team. Junior Kaimalino Ingram has continued from how last season went, starting in every game she’s played this season. Just like her twin sister, Jordan, Ingram is studying Kinesiology. 

   Junior Ava Hlavacek is one of two starting catchers on the team. She’s started off her season starting four games, batting .500 at the plate with 3 RBI’s. Hlavacek is a sports communication and journalism major who is also a part of the Boxer Creative Club and (shout out) on the Index staff.

   Moving on to junior Kimberly Ray, who has also had a great start to the season. The infielder is batting .318 at the plate with 4 RBI’s. Ray is an Education major.

   Junior Libby Hardee is a McMinnville native who’s had a stellar start to her 2026 campaign. She didn’t play much last season, but has established herself as a starting caliber outfielder, batting .316 at the plate. Hardee is another Kinesiology major.

   Senior Rylie Kihara has started 79 of 90 games during her Pacific career, and she’s proved why that’s still been the case so far this season. She’s batting .231 at the plate with an RBI. She’s soon to finish her biology degree.

   During the weekend of March 14 and 15, Boxer softball plays back-to-back days of doubleheaders against Puget Sound. On March 21 and 22, they host back-to-back days of doubleheaders against PLU.