Photo Taken By: Jake Ryan 

By: Alex Plusquellec

NEWBERG, Ore. --- After a ninth inning comeback by Whittier in game one, the Bruins were able to take game two against the Poets to split Saturday's non-conference doubleheader.

Recap:
Game One:
The Bruins jumped on the Poets early thanks to a two RBI single from AJ Valencia in the bottom of the second. With two outs in the inning, Dillon Blankenship scored on Drew Reichenbach's bases loaded walk to give the Bruins a 3-0 lead.

Neither team was able to generate offense until the sixth inning when Reichenbach drove in Matt Voelzke on a double to right center. After a scoreless seventh, the Bruins took a 4-0 lead into the eighth inning. 

In the top of the eighth, the Poets scored on a sac fly to get on the board. Despite holding strong for the better part of nine innings, the Bruins fell victim to Whittier's offensive explosion.

With two outs in the ninth, Whittier's Andrew Lamar drove in two cut the lead to one. In the very next at bat, the Poets got a three-run homer from Jake Raynaud to take a 6-4 lead. 

In the bottom of the ninth, Zachery Muenster drove in Blankenship to bring the Bruins within one, but it wasn't enough as the Whittier was able to complete the comeback and take game one by a score of 6-5.

Game Two:
Houston Thom got the Bruins started early in game two, driving in Zach Rhoads on an RBI single in the first. Tristan Guillen's sac fly in the second inning gave the Bruins a 2-0 lead after two.

After Whittier was able to get two runs across in the top of the fourth, the Bruins responded with two of their own. Derek Johnson's sac fly drove in Jantzen Tamanaha, and Gavin Speegle stole home to give the Bruins a 4-2 lead after four. 

The Poets cut the lead to one in the sixth, but the Bruins fired back, scoring three in the bottom of half of the inning. Tamanaha scored on an error by the Poets, and with two outs Jalen Drath singled to center field, driving in two. 

The Bruins took a 7-3 lead into the ninth and despite giving up two runs in the inning were able to win the second game of the doubleheader 7-5.

Top Performers:
Game One:
Reichenbach and Valencia led the way for the Bruins, each driving in two. Blankenship added two hits and two runs of his own, and Dustin Wells went eight innings, giving up just one run and striking out six.

Game Two:
The Bruins were led by Drath's two RBI and Tamanah's three runs. Garret Day picked up his first win of the season and freshman AJ Atherton collected his first career save.

What It Means:
With the Saturday split, the Bruins complete the series victory over the Poets and push their overall record to 12-15.

What Comes Next:
The Bruins will return to action on April 8 as they travel north to take on Pacific Lutheran. Saturday's first pitch is set for 12 p.m.