By: Alex Plusquellec

PORTLAND, Ore. --- The offense led the way Saturday, as the George Fox baseball team opened Northwest Conference play against Lewis and Clark, taking game one 10-6 before weather postponed game two. The second game is moved to Sunday with game three to follow at Morse Athletic Complex in Newberg.

Recap:
After stranding men on base in the first inning, a single from Brandon Wileman in the top of the second helped kick off a seven run inning for the Bruins. Dillon Blankenship scored on an error after Wileman's base knock to left, and two batters later Andrew Reichenbach went deep for a three-run home run, scoring Wileman and AJ Valencia. 

Later in the inning, Kyle Esquerra scored on an error and Jalen Drath drove in Connor Newell and Sam Swenson to give the Bruins an early 7-0 lead. 

With two outs in the top of the third, Esquerra doubled to left center driving in Blankenship and Valencia. Swenson singled through the left side in the ensuing at-bat and Esquerra scored to extend the lead to 10-0.

The Pioneers scored six in the bottom of the fourth to cut into the Bruins' lead, but Dustin Wells and Mikah Takashige settled in and gave up just two hits in the last five innings to secure the 10-6 victory for the Bruins. 

Top Performers:
Swenson had himself a day at the plate going 4-5 and driving in one. Reichenbach knocked in three RBIs with his second inning home run, and Jalen Drath and Esquerra both added two RBIs. Wells earned the win and is now 1-1 on the season and 1-0 in the NWC.

What It Means:
The win boosts the Bruins overall record to 2-4 and kicks off NWC play undefeated at 1-0.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins will play host and visitor Sunday, Feb. 19, as the Pioneers and Bruins will enjoy the turf field on the campus of George Fox. The Bruins are still the away team for the doubleheader against the Pioneers.