By: Alex Plusquellec

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Behind the bats of Kyler Brudwick and Sam Swenson, the George Fox baseball team took the series from Linfield on Monday night, edging the 'Cats 4-3.

Recap:

The Bruins and 'Cats went scoreless through the first two innings despite both teams getting runners into scoring position. Bruin starter Alex Jondal was able to work out of a jam in the bottom half of the second to keep the 'Cats off the board.

Dillon Blankenship drew a walk to begin the top of the third, and back to back well-executed sacrifice bunts by AJ Valencia and Jerred Seamons forced the "Cats into two errors, loading the bases. Jantzen Tamanaha grounded into a double play in the next at-bat, but it worked to bring home the first run of the game.

Jondal found his rhythm on the mound and kept Linfield quiet. The senior struck out five and gave up six hits in his six innings of work.

With one out in the sixth, Swenson launched his second home run of the season to give the Bruins a 2-0 lead. The 'Cats would rally with two runs in the bottom half of the inning, and the two would remain tied until the eighth.

Tamanaha's one-out single put the go-ahead run on base for the Bruins, who would get the second baseman into scoring position on a passed ball. With two outs and Tamanaha standing on second, Brudwick notched his third hit of the game, an RBI single to left, and the Bruins grabbed a late 3-2 lead.

Matt Voelzke entered in the eighth looking for the two-inning save and struck out the first two Linfield hitters he faced on his way to a 1-2-3 inning. The Bruins added what turned out to be a much-needed insurance run in the top of the ninth when Marc Audet hit his second pinch-hit homer of the season to give the Bruins a 4-2 advantage.

Linfield's Levi Horner-Villa's home run in the bottom of the ninth brought the 'Cats to within one, but Voelzke was able to force two groundouts and tally a strikeout to put Linfield away, 4-3.

Top Performers:

Brudwick's 3 for 4 day was made sweeter with his go-ahead RBI in the eighth. Swenson's RBI gives him 23 on the year and Jondal's strong outing earned him his second win of the season. In his 11.2 innings of relief, Voelzke has struck out a total of 24 batters, tying him for a team-high.

What It Means:

The win Monday night gives the Bruins the series win over Linfield and brings their record to 11-3 and 5-1 in NWC play.

What Comes Next:

The Bruins return home for a series against Pacific University beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch of game one is set for 11 a.m.