NEWBERG, Ore. --- The George Fox baseball team not only battled the Linfield Wildcats Sunday, but Mother Nature also played a role, as both teams played two innings with snow coming down. The 'Cats were able to hold off the Bruins late game comeback with a score of 11-9.

Recap:
The first inning was a quick one as both starters came out shutting down the top of the order. The Wildcats were able to get their first run on the board in the top of the second after a two out throwing error kept the inning alive. After the error, a single up the right side put two runners on and Colton Robinson singles up the middle to give the 'Cats a 1-0 lead.

The Bruins were quick to respond, as they found home plate in the bottom half of the second with a nifty play. Andrew Reichenbach forced the 'Cats hand on a steal to second, and Kyle Esquerra, who was on third from a leadoff single scored on the throw to tie the score up at 1-1. Dillon Blankenship and Matt Voelzke worked two walks and Brandon Wileman gave the Bruins their only lead of the game with a single to center field, 2-1.

Linfield evened the score up in the third with a run, and jumped out to a 9-2 lead after putting up seven runs in the fourth.

Both teams tallied a run in the fifth, but the Bruins found some wiggle room in the sixth and seventh inning with two runs apiece. Blankenship got the ball rolling for the Bruins in the sixth with a double to left field, which scored Esquerra for the second time on the day. Voelzke followed suit with a single through the right side, and the Bruins continued to claw at the deficit.

On the defensive side, Mikah Takashige came in for the Bruins in the top of the fourth and was wonderful. The junior right-hander went 4.2 innings, with his biggest innings coming down the stretch. Takashige allowed just two runs during his time on the mound, while blanking the 'Cats in the seventh and eighth inning.

George Fox entered the bottom of the ninth down four, but that quickly changed as bases were loaded after a hit by pitch and two straight walks. Zachery Muenster delivered a well hit ball to left center, which brought home Sam Swenson and the Bruins first run of the inning. Voelzke hit a one out single through the left side and the Bruins were suddenly down two with the game-winning run on first. The Bruins couldn't capitalize, though, as they left all three stranded after a foul out and a strikeout.

Top Performers:
Esquerra led the bats, going 3-4 at the plate with three runs scored. Voelzke recorded two hits and two RBIs. Takashige and Voelzke combined for six strikeouts.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins hit the road to take on Pacific for a three game series March 4-5.