By: Alex Plusquellec

WHITTIER --- The George Fox baseball team rallied for a big road win Friday, scoring six runs in the ninth to take down the Whittier Poets, 11-7.

Recap:

After a scoreless first inning, the Bruins put up a run in the top of the second. Sam Swenson led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Austin Baek. Dillon Blankenship's double to center wasn't enough to score Swenson, but a single by Kyle Esquerra in the next at-bat allowed Swenson to trot home to give the Bruins the 1-0 lead.

The Bruins tacked on four more in the top of the fourth. With the bases loaded and one out, AJ Valencia's fly out to left proved deep enough for Esquerra to score and push the lead to 2-0. In the very next at-bat, Jerred Seamons crushed a three-run home run to extend the Bruin lead to 5-0.

Alex Jondal got the start on the mound for the Bruins and found his groove early. The right-hander kept the Whittier bats quiet as he carried a no-hit bid into the fifth.

The Bruins and Poets put up scoreless fifth and sixth innings before it was Whittier's turn to put up a big number in the seventh. The Poets ran across six runs thanks to a no-out grand slam.

After taking a 6-5 lead through seven innings the Poets added one run in the eighth to provide some cushion. Trailing 7-5 and needing a spark from the heart of their lineup, the Bruins got exactly that.

Swenson led off the top of the ninth with a double down the left field line, his 12th of the year. After loading the bases, Matt Voelzke drew a one-out walk to bring home Swenson and cut the Whittier lead in half.

With the go-ahead run on second and the tying run on third, Marc Audet's pinch-hit single reclaimed the lead for the Bruins, 8-7. Valencia produced his second RBI of the day with his sacrifice bunt to extend the lead to 9-7 before Seamons went yard for the second time of the day to give the Bruins the 11-7 advantage.

Voelzke entered to pitch in the ninth and struck out the side to lock up the big comeback win, 11-7.

Top Performers:

The Bruin bats produced in spurts on Friday, led by Seamons two home run, five RBI day. Valencia followed suit with two RBIs of his own and Audet's clutch two-RBI single in the ninth gave the Bruins the lead that they would not relinquish. Despite the no-decision, Jondal completed six innings while striking out seven hitters.

What It Means:

The comeback victory improves the Bruins to 16-12 on the season.

What Comes Next:

The Bruins and Poets will be back at it on Saturday for a doubleheader. Game one is set for 10 a.m. with the second game to follow.