By: Ryan Lackey

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruins started their 2016 season in top form, coming back from behind to defeat the defending Northwest Conference champions Pacific Lutheran Lutes 9-8 in the first game of the NWC Invitational Tournament.

Recap:
Playing at Ron Tonkin Field, the home of the single-A Hillsboro Hops, the Bruins made the most of their beautiful facilities. Head coach Marty Hunter has expressed his optimism for the upcoming season, and the Bruins certainly looked like contenders. From the first pitch, the Bruins looked sharp: in the first, Andrew Reichnbach hit a groundout that scored AJ Valencia, who'd led off with a single down the right field line. Jake Thran followed with another RBI groundout, and the Bruins led, 2-0.

Of course, Pacific Lutheran were champions last season for good reason, and their response was rapid. In the bottom of the second, catcher Frank Airey singled in two runs to tie the game; Airey scored on an error, and the Lutes took a 3-2 lead.

The Bruins made the game into a slugfest in the third, throwing tough punches. Valencia sparked the inning with a leadoff walk, and Reichenbach singled him in. Thran smashed a double to left to score Gabe Louthan, and Jacob Woehler pummeled a double of his own to score two more. At inning's end, the Bruins had retaken a 4-3 lead.

The Lutes, true to form, came right back. A walk to Cole Johnson and Brett Johnson's single drove in two runs. In the fifth, the Lutes tacked on another run on Ben Welch's sacrifice fly, and the Bruins found themselves in an 8-6 hole.

In previous seasons, perhaps the Bruins would've been unable to mount a comeback, especially against a deep squad like Pacific Lutheran, but the 2016 Bruins proved up to the challenge. Facing Lee Larson on the mound, the Bruins began the eighth with a Clay Mott single. Connor Newell doubled, and Garrett Brown replaced Larson on the rubber. Undaunted by the pitching change, Caylen Clardy launched a triple, scoring two and tying the game at 8-8. Valencia worked a walk, and Louthan sacrificed him to second. After an intentional walk to Reichenbach, Thran lofted a sacrifice fly that scored Clardy, and the Bruins were up, 9-8.

The Bruins' Dustin Wells saw the game out on the mound, and the Bruins claimed a come-from-behind, 9-8 victory over the Lutes for a rather exhilarating start to the 2016 season.

Top Performers:
Wells took the win with five innings of relief – he surrendered just two hits and zero runs. Reichenbach finished 2-4 with two RBI. Louthan went 2-3 and scored twice. Valencia also scored twice and reached base three times. Connor Newell finished 2-4. Jake Thran went 1-4 with three RBI. Clardy and Woehler both drove in two runs.

What It Means:
The Bruins begin their season on a positive note and claim their first win in the NWC Invitational Tournament.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins will postpone the second game due to rain and will reschedule for Monday, Feb. 8 at 3:30 p.m.