ANTHEM, Ariz. - Newcomers Zach Rapacz and Clay Mott combined to drive in seven runs, leading the George Fox University Bruins to an 11-9 victory over the Whitman College Missionaries in a battle of Northwest Conference foes on the final day of the Arizona Desert Classic baseball tournament Sunday afternoon here at Boulder Creek High School.

The Bruins scored seven runs in the first two innings and built a 7-2 lead through four frames.  Rapacz and Mott drew bases-loaded walks to force in runs in the 1st, and Rapacz slugged a three-run home run to cap a five-run outburst in the 2nd.

The Missionaries rallied with a five-spot of their own in the bottom of the 5th to tie it 7-7, but the Bruins regained the lead for good in the top of the 6th, Mott singling in a pair for a 9-7 lead.  The Bruins added two more in the 9th when Jalen Drath walked and scored all the way from first on a sacrifice bunt by Matthew Zeller and a subsequent wild throw, and Zeller, who had reached third, scored on a single by Josh Rapacz.

Those extra runs proved crucial as the Missionaries, down 11-8, scored once and had the bases loaded with two out.  Sean Eberhardt was up to the task, however, getting a strikeout to end the game and earn his first save of the season.  George Fox starter Ian Buckles (1-0) got the win, working into the 6th and benefitting from the Bruins' tie-breaking rally in the top of that inning.

Derek Blankenship and Josh Rapacz each had three hits for the Bruins, and Derek Dixon chipped in with two safeties.  The Bruins finished their trip to the sunny Southwest with a 3-1 record, out-scoring their opponents 39-17.

NEXT: George Fox returns home for four weekend games against Concordia University-Portland and the College of Idaho on Feb. 14-16.  On Friday, the Bruins will play the College of Idaho at 2:00 p.m. at Concordia.  On Saturday, they will host their first two home games at Morse Field against Concordia at 10:00 a.m. and the College of Idaho at 1:00 p.m.  On Sunday, George Fox and Concordia will clash at 2:00 p.m. at Concordia.

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