Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 By: Jake Bienvenue
NEWBERG --- The No. 11-ranked George Fox softball team hosted Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference doubleheader Friday, sweeping the Loggers with a 10-0, 5-inning win in game one and a 2-1 win in game two.
Recap:
Game One:
Annie Veatch put the Bruins on the scoreboard in style, hitting a two-RBI home run in the bottom of the first to give the home team the early lead.
Alyssa Gonzalez kept it going, hitting a home run to left center field on the very first at-bat in the bottom of the second. With runners on first and third, Alex Parker reached first base on a fielder's choice, allowing Kimi Ito to score. After the Bruins loaded the bases, Aaliyah Kautz grounded out to shortstop to advance Savannah Vargas home. Roni Braun capped off the inning with a single through the left side, then advanced to second on the throw to allow Rebecca Pridmore and Alex Parker to score.
Five runs in the bottom of the second pushed the Bruin lead even further, setting the score at 7-0.
The Bruins continued their offensive performance in the bottom of the third, scratching across another pair of runs to pull away from the Loggers. Ito started it off with a single, then Vargas doubled to center field to put George Fox in scoring position. Pridmore stepped up to the plate and singled to right field for two more runs for the Bruins.
The Bruins led 9-0 at the end of three innings.
Veatch struck again in the bottom of the fourth, sending another ball out of left-center field for the homer. The home run was Veatch's 31st, setting a new George Fox record for career home runs. The Bruins led 10-0 heading into the fifth inning.
Puget Sound could not get anything past pitching ace Madison Sorensen in the top of the fifth. The Bruins won 10-0 as the mercy rule went into play. Sorensen recorded her 12th shutout in her career, which marks a new school record for the senior.
Game Two:
The Loggers struck first in game two, hitting a home run in the top of the third to set the score at 1-0.
Gonzalez responded with her second home run of the day in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game at 1-1.
The Bruins kept it going in the bottom of the fifth, scoring once more to take the lead. Pridmore opened it up with a double to left center field, then Veatch was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second. Braun walked to first to stack the bases for the Bruins, then Allison Meyer popped up a sac fly to allow Pridmore to score for the RBI.
Puget Sound was unable to score in the following innings as the Bruins took a close game two, 2-1.
Top Performers:
Game One:
Veatch was on fire in game one, hitting two home runs to set the career record at George Fox. Braun and Pridmore each tallied two RBIs to contribute on the offensive end. Sorensen was unstoppable on the mound, throwing a no-hitter with a whopping nine strikeouts. She also sets a new school record for career shutouts with 12.
Game Two:
Gonzalez hit her second homer of the day to pace the Bruins in RBI. Meyer's sac fly also allowed the Bruins to score. Abbie Bergerson got the win on the mound, throwing three strikeouts in six innings pitched.
What It Means:
The Bruins move into first in the Northwest Conference standings at 16-2 and sit at 25-5 on the season.
What Comes Next:
The Bruins host Puget Sound in games three and four of the conference series on Saturday. Game one is set for 12:00 pm and game two is set for 2:00 pm.
