By: Alex Plusquellec

NEWBERG, Ore. --- The George Fox baseball team scored early and often, using a big eight-run fifth inning on its way to an 11-9 home win over the Whitworth Pirates to open up the Northwest Conference Pre-Season Tournament.

Recap:

From the first pitch, Cameron Jack was in command on the mound for the Bruins. The righty struck out the side in the top of first, setting the tone for the remainder of his outing.

The Bruins were the first on the board thanks to a leadoff single from Jerred Seamons in the bottom of the first. Jantzen Tamanaha bunted Seamons over to second, and after two errors by the Pirates, Seamons crossed home plate to give the Bruins an early 1-0 lead.

Dillon Blankenship roped a double to start the top of the second inning, and Matt Voelzke's single in the very next at-bat brought in Blankenship to add to the Bruin lead.

Jack continued to work through the Pirates, breezing through the first four innings and allowing just one hit.

After the Bruins stranded two runners on base in the bottom of the fourth, Whitworth pieced together a handful of at-bats in the top of the fifth, scoring a run with no outs in the inning. With the bases loaded and just one out, Jack worked himself out of the jam thanks to a double play to end the inning.

The Bruins clung to a 2-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth.

Seamons again got things started with a leadoff single and was brought home by Sam Swenson's sacrifice fly to left field. After Kyler Brudwick's single moved Tamanaha to second, Kyle Esquerra singled down the left field line to score Tamanaha. After a Blankenship line out, Voelzke drew a walk to load the bases.

With two outs and the bases juiced, Austin Baek singled up the middle to score Brudwick and Esquerra, and the Bruins extended their lead to 6-1.

AJ Valencia kept the big inning alive with an RBI single to make it 7-1 Bruins. After Seamons was hit by a pitch, Tamanaha singled to score Baek before Voelzke brought home two more with a single to right.

The Bruins led 10-1 after five.

Jack remained in the game and rightly so. He retired the Pirates in order in the top of the sixth and allowed no runs on one hit in the seventh. He exited the game with the Bruins still in command 10-1.

Replacing Jack proved to be an issue for the Bruins, who allowed the Pirates to cut the lead to 10-9 in the top of the eighth inning. Needing a momentum shift back in their direction, Marc Audet led the bottom of the eighth inning with a solo home run to give the Bruins an 11-9 lead and a bit of breathing room.

The Bruins were able to shut the Pirates down in the top of the ninth as Voelzke held things down to pick up the save and secure the 11-9 victory for the Bruins.

Top Performers:

Jack came out dealing on Friday, giving up just one run on four hits while striking out five on his way to picking his first win of the season. Swenson finished the day 1 for 4, driving in three for the Bruins who racked up 15 hits on the day. Six other Bruins drove in at least one run, highlighted by Baek's 2 for 5, two RBI performance. Seamons led the Bruins with three runs scored while going 3 for 4 at the dish. Voelzke picked up his second save.

What It Means:

The Bruins picked up their fourth straight win to open the season and now sit at 4-1 overall.

What Comes Next:

The Bruins are back in action Saturday against Lewis and Clark. First pitch at Morse Field is set for 1 p.m.