CLACKAMAS, Ore. – For the second day in a row, the George Fox University Bruins gained a split of their two games in the Northwest Cup softball tournament Sunday here at Hood View Park, dropping a narrow 2-1 decision to the NAIA power Oregon Institute of Technology Owls before recovering for a 4-2 win over the Northwest Christian University Beacons.

Game 1 – Oregon Tech 2, George Fox 1

The Bruins put up a valiant effort against the defending NAIA national champions and the pre-season No. 1 team in the NAIA, out-hitting the Owls 6-4 and coming within one pitching mistake of upsetting the powerhouse from Klamath Falls.

Taylor Whitmore (0-1) went three strong innings for the Bruins, but was touched for both Tech runs in the 3rd when Sarah Coates dumped a lead-off single just behind the pitcher's mound and Kayde Schaefer lined a two-run shot to left.  Whitmore surrendered three hits, struck out one and walked none before Rachel Fielder finished up with three innings of one-hit, one-walk shutout ball.

Taylor Schmidt (4-0) threw five innings for the Owls, scattering six hits whiled allowing one unearned run, striking out two and passing one.  Melissa Logan picked up her first save of the season with two innings of no-hit relief, fanning three and walking only one.

The Bruins got their only run in the 4th.  Felicia Chavez led off with a bunt single and Mckynna Towery singled to left with one out.  Genetta Bennett singled to center to move the runners up a base, and when Danielle Sayres juggled the ball in center, Chavez scored.  McKenzie Beeson reached on an error when Schmidt threw wildly to third trying to get a force out, loading the bases, but Schmidt got out of trouble with a pop out and a grounder to third.

Chavez had two of the Bruins' six hits, while Shauna Collins had half of the Owls' four safeties.

Game 2 - George Fox 4, Northwest Christian 2

Chavez hit her second home run of the season and Jenny Milton fell a home run shy of hitting for the cycle as the Bruins bounced back in their second game of the day to defeat the Beacons from Eugene.

The Bruins got four consecutive hits to start the bottom of the 1st inning but only managed one run.  Kris Trindle bunted for a hit and Milton lined a double just inside the bag at third, sending Trindle to third.  Chavez singled to left score Trindle, but Milton had to hold at second in case the ball was caught, and Bethany Chriss singled to right to load the bases.  However, Beacon starter Kalyssa Koontz (0-4) escaped further damage with three straight strikeouts, two of them looking.

In the George Fox 2nd, Kerrianne Davidson walked and Nicole Renteria beat out a bunt single to third, with a wild throw sending Davidson to third.  Trindle reached on a fielder's choice to the mound as Davidson was caught at the plate, but Milton delivered a two-run triple to left-center to make it 3-0.  Northwest Christian got on the board in the 4th on a solo shot to right-center by Laynee Bevans, but the Bruins got it back in the 5th on a lead-off homer to left-center by Chavez. 

George Fox starter Erin Hento (2-2) worked into the 6th before tiring as the Beacons tried to rally.  JoElla Smith singled with one out and Ally Mittleider walked before Bevans hit into a force at third.  Chelsea Hannon singled in Mittleider and Jazzmyne Villaruel walked to load the bases, but Fielder replaced Hento and got Dani Gehrke to ground back to the mound to end the inning, then worked a 1-2-3 7th to nail down her first save. 

The Bruins collected 10 hits, with Milton adding a single to her previous extra-base hits in the 6th.  Chavez, Chriss and Renteria had two hits apiece.  For the Beacons, who had seven hits in all, Addy Hoskins and Hannon had two hits each.

NEXT: George Fox (5-5) begins Northwest Conference play next weekend with doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday at home against Willamette University, starting at 12:00 noon each day.  The Bruins were picked to finish sixth in the NWC this year, while the visiting Bearcats were picked third.