SPOKANE, Wash. - The opening game of the Northwest Conference baseball series between George Fox University and Whitworth University has been suspended by rain after seven innings after the visiting Bruins had taken a 16-5 lead over the Pirates Friday afternoon here at Merkel Field.

The teams will attempt to complete the game on Saturday at 11:00 a.m., then play as much of the remaining two games as possible.

Eric Gantenbein has driven in four runs to this point for George Fox. Michael Woo is the only Bruin with more than one hit and he has scored twice. Jeremy Cheney started on the mound, allowing three runs on 12 hits through the first six innings, and is in line to pick up the win if the Bruins hold the lead. George Fox scored eight runs in the first inning to grab a commanding early lead.

Whitworth has outhit the Bruins 14-9 to this point, but Pirate pitchers have walked 11 Bruin batters and hit four others.

Dan Belet has three hits for Whitworth and has scored twice. Kyle Krustangel hit his sixth home run of the season.