By: Alex Plusquellec

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The Bruin bats never quite got hot on a cool Monday morning as the George Fox baseball team fell at home 9-1 to Puget Sound for the final game of the Northwest Conference Pre-Season Tournament.

Recap:

The Bruins were behind the eight ball early, giving up two runs in the top of the first. Jerred Seamons opened the bottom of the first inning with a single up the middle, but any rally that was to be was thwarted by a double play.

The Loggers added three more in the second to take a 5-0 lead. Kyle Esquerra singled with two outs in the bottom of the second but the Bruins were unable to bring him home.

Neither team was able to put runs on the board in the third. In the top of the fourth, it was the Loggers who struck again, scoring three runs on two hits. The Bruins compounded the issue by committing three errors.

The Loggers led 8-0 after four.

A single by Colby Watilo in the fifth and a single by Sam Swenson in the sixth provided the Bruins with opportunities that never materialized. Esquerra's second single of the game in the seventh was more of the same.

Puget Sound's Ryan Moyes solo home run in the eighth added to the Loggers lead, and a 1-2-3 bottom half left the Bruins with just three outs to mount any sort of comeback.

The Bruins wound up with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth but could only muster one run when Watilo drew a walk. The Bruins would leave the eight on base throughout as they were never able to get to the Loggers' pitching staff.

Top Performers:

Swenson and Esquerra each accounted for two base hits in what was a quiet day for the Bruin offense. Connor Carter, Connor Olmstead and Rowdy Huston limited the Loggers to a combined three hits over the final four innings in their relief work.

What It Means:

The loss snaps the Bruins six-game winning streak as they close with weekend with a 6-2 overall record.

What Comes Next:

The Bruins will enjoy a week of practice before officially opening NWC play on Saturday with a doubleheader against Lewis and Clark. Game one is set to begin at 11 a.m.