ANTHEM, Ariz. – Senior right-hander
Andrew Snyder threw six shutout innings in his first career start
and the George Fox University Bruins completed a perfect run
through the Arizona Desert Baseball Classic with a 12-6 win over
the Concordia University (Texas) Tornadoes Sunday here at Boulder
Creek High School.
Snyder (1-0) scattered five hits over his six innings, striking
out three and walking none. His teammates made it easier for
him by building him a 7-0 lead on a pair of three-run innings, the
fourth and the sixth. The Bruins also scored two in the
eighth and three more in the ninth to put the game away after the
Tornadoes had cut the margin to 9-6.
Four hurlers finished up the final three innings.
Concordia had trimmed the lead to 9-6 and had the bases loaded with
two out in the eighth when George Fox coach Marty Hunter summoned
Dan Winterstein in from right field. A four-year starter in
the outfield known for his strong arm, Winterstein was making his
firs college appearance on the mound. He induced an
inning-ending ground ball, then worked a perfect ninth with two
strikeouts of the Tornadoes three and four hitters to earn the
save.
George Fox batters banged out 20 hits, with every starter but
one collecting multiple hits. Winterstein and Eric Gantenbein
had three hit apiece, with Winterstein driving in three runs.
Two-hit games were put together by Taylor Hunter, San Stahl, Josh
Rapacz, Derek Aldrich, Derek Blankenship, and Nate Hickok, with
Hunter doubling and driving in a pair of runs. Hickok also
had a double.
George Fox is now 4-0 on the season after defeating California
Lutheran University, the University of Texas-Dallas, the University
of La Verne, and Concordia in the tournament, with double-digit
hits in each game. All four are strong NCAA Division III West
Region programs, the first three having made one or more
post-season appearances in the last three years. The 4-0
start is the Bruins' best since the 2007 team started the
season 14-0.
“I could not be more proud of these kids this
weekend,” said Coach Hunter following the Concordia
win. “We battled and competed all week. Our
hitters came through with clutch two-out and two-strike hits
regularly, and our pitchers got the big outs when they needed
them. Our bullpen had a couple of hiccups, but part of that
was kids getting their feet wet in college ball for the first
time. I can't say enough about the job Andrew Snyder
did for us Sunday when we looked a little thin on the arms; he gave
us six strong innings that saved our bullpen.”
NEXT: George Fox will play in the Cascade
Collegiate Conference / Northwest Conference Challenge at
Wilsonville (Ore.) High School Feb. 18-20. The Bruins will
take on Corban University Friday at 5:00 p.m., the Oregon Institute
of Technology Saturday at 2:00 p.m., and Concordia
University-Portland Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
