by Jared Beilby, Student Intern

NEWBERG, Ore. – Freshman Ashley Bunce hit a seventh-inning solo home run to force extra innings for George Fox University against 14th-ranked Linfield College, but the visiting Wildcats scored in the ninth for a 3-2 victory over the Bruins to complete a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader sweep Saturday afternoon here at Morse Field.

In the opener, the Wildcats (6-0, 6-0 NWC), who have won the Northwest Conference 10 seasons running, handed the Bruins (9-2, 3-2 NWC) a 10-2 setback in six innings that ended George Fox's nine-game season-opening winning streak, the best start in team history.

Game 1 – Linfield 10, at George Fox 2

Linfield scored in every inning of the first game, capping things off with a two-run fifth and a four-run sixth inning after George Fox had held the Wildcats to one run in each of the opening four innings. Linfield was led by senior Haylie Watson, who went 3-4 and hit a pair of home runs. Fellow senior Karina Paavola pitched five innings and scored the win for Linfield.

Despite the loss, George Fox had a bright spot in the second inning when sophomore Courtney Howard blasted a two-run homer in the second inning that tied the ballgame at 2-2.

Sophomore Amanda Woods and Bunce were the other Bruins with hits as both had a single. Senior Erin Hento (4-1) took the loss while going five innings in the circle, allowing eight hits and five earned runs. Woods added relief in the sixth inning and faced seven batters.

Game 2 – Linfield 3, George Fox 2

George Fox took an early lead in the second game when freshman Baylee Westrick connected for a solo long ball,her fourth of year, to put the Bruins up 1-0 in the second inning. Linfield answered with a pair two innings later as junior Lisa Yamamoto scored from first due to a throwing error and freshman pinch-hitter Erin Kinney hit an RBI double.

After two scoreless innings, Bunce opened the bottom of the seventh with a homer off Paavola, on in relief, to tie things up 2-2. George Fox could not get another runner home in the frame, sending the game into extra innings. After neither side scored in the eighth, senior Ashley Garcia hit a sacrifice fly to bring junior Grace Middlestadt home in the top of the ninth, giving the Wildcats a 3-2 lead. Hoping to keep the game alive in the bottom half of the inning, the Bruins went three up and three down to finish the game.

Senior Allyssa DenDekker (3-1) pitched all nine innings for the Bruins and allowed only three runs on nine hits while walking just two. Westrick added a single to her home run to lead the Bruins with two hits. Paavola (3-0) pitched the final three innings to earn her second victory of the day for the Wildcats. 

NEXT: George Fox travels to Salem, Ore., to play Willamette University in a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 12 p.m. … Linfield hosts Pacific University in a twinbill at 12 p.m. on Sunday.