Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 By: Ryan Lackey
Photo by Shelby Byerly
NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruins clinched the #2 spot in the Northwest Conference with their sweep of Lewis & Clark on Sunday afternoon. Amanda Woods powered the Bruins to a high-scoring 10-7 win in the opener, and Madison Sorensen threw a gem in the later game as the Bruins won, 6-1. The wins marked head coach Jessica Hollen's 150th and 151st, and the 100th win for seniors Woods, Courtney Howard, Kayla Anderson, and Kat Hylton.
Recap:
Game One
Woods picked an excellent time to have a four-RBI game, as the Bruins would need them all. The first game on Sunday turned unexpectedly into a shootout: Abbie Bergerson was her usual sharp self through the first three innings but faltered in the fourth and fifth.
But the Bruins struck first through Woods and Veatch in the third. Kimi Ito and Kayla Anderson both rapped out singles, and Annie Veatch followed up with a single of her own, pushing across Ito with the Bruins's first run. Next up was Woods, who smashed a three-run homer and built the Bruins a 4-0 lead.
The Pioneers, though, proved themselves capable of playing longball, too. In the fourth, Hannah Dal Pra's two-run shot halved the Bruins's lead. Such was the first sign of weakness from Bergerson, but the in the fifth it grew worse. After two singles, an error and a double let in three runs to give the Pioneers the lead, and Alyssa Harris relieved Bergerson. But the Pioneers weren't done: a single from Tia Rosario and a wild pitch meant the Bruins were suddenly down 7-4.
But the Bruins responded with a big fifth of their own. Ito tripled, and Anderson's double drove her in. Woods then singled in another run, and Julia Apodaca's sharp single plated the third. Kat Hylton knocked in two more, and Alex Parker pounded a long double to bring in the sixth: the Bruins led, 10-7.
Madison Sorensen would relieve Harris and see the game out, and the Bruins had a rather exciting 10-7 victory.
Game Two
Things were never really in doubt for the Bruins in the late game after their five-run first inning. After a walk to Anderson and singles by Veatch and Woods to load the bases, Courtney Howard's grounder was misplayed and two runs scored. After Hylton walked, Tia Uyehara then singled in two more runs, and Rebecca Pridmore's single plated the fifth. Then, in the fifth, the Bruins tacked on a sixth run on another Pioneer miscue.
With Sorensen pitching, a familiar story for the Bruins this season, the Pioneers could manage little offensively. They put two runners on in the third, but Sorensen did well to escape without allowing any runs. Their one run came in the fifth, when two singles, plus an RBI double from Jenai Rojo, made the score 6-1.
But Sorensen was perfect afterwards, and the Bruins took the came, and the #2 spot in the conference.
Top Performers:
Game One
Woods finished 2-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored. Ito went 2-3 and scored. Hylton was 1-3 with two RBIs. Annie Veatch had a perfect 3-3 game. Kayla Anderson scored twice and finished 2-4. Sorensen took the win in relief to take her record to 12-4.
Game Two
Sorensen claimed her 13th win of the season, and her second on the day, to boost her record to 13-4. Howard and Uyehara were both 1-3 with two RBIs. Veatch went 2-4.
What It Means:
The Bruins finish the regular season 28-12 and 18-10 in conference.
What Comes Next:
With the regular season completed, the Bruins look forward to the NWC tournament in Spokane.
