By: Ryan Lackey

McMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Five solid innings from starter Alex Jondal, a 3-4 day from table-setter AJ Valencia, and two RBIs from designated hitter Andrew Reichenbach led the Bruins to a 7-5 win over Puget Sound in preseason Northwest Conference competition. The Bruins and the Loggers faced off at Linfield University in McMinnville.

Recap:
Energized by their comeback win over defending NWC champions Pacific Lutheran, the Bruins came out and put up three runs in the bottom half of the first inning. Valencia led off with a walk – he reached base four times on Saturday. After a fielder's choice from Caylen Clardy, Reichenbach singled, and Brandon Wileman roped a double that scored both. Some imprecision from the Loggers let in the third run: Wileman went to third on a wild pitch and scored on an error from the catcher.

The Bruins tacked on another in the third, when Reichenbach's RBI groundout brought in Valencia, who'd singled. In the top of the fourth, Puget Sound pulled one back on Ben Jones's RBI single, but the Bruins responded in turn, scoring two in the bottom half of the inning. Valencia, driving runs in instead of scoring them, doubled in Ansel Webster. Valencia scored on an error, and the Bruins held a 6-1 lead.

Puget Sound attempted a comeback, pushing across single runs in the fifth and sixth. Going into the Bruins's half of the sixth, the score stood at 6-3, but Valencia, again on base, scored on Jake Thran's single, extending the lead to 7-3.

In the eighth, Puget Sound got two runs off of Bruin reliever Zachery Muenster on a Nath Backes homer, but subsequent arms Jake Timlin and Tyler Hamilton saw the game out as a 7-5 victory for the Bruins.

Top Performers:
Valencia had a day, scoring three runs, driving in one, and finishing 3-4 with a walk. Reichenbach remained a dangerous presence in the three-hole, going 2-3 and picking up two RBIs. Brandon Wileman went 1-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Ansel Webster went 2-4. Starter Alex Jondal picked up the win.

What It Means:
The Bruins have begun their preseason blazing hot, winning their first two games, one in spectacular fashion over Pacific Lutheran.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins continue their NWC preseason tournament tomorrow against Whitman.