By: Alex Plusquellec

SALEM --- The George Fox baseball team wrapped up the 2018 season with a doubleheader against Willamette on Sunday as the Bruins and Bearcats split the two contests.

Recap

Game One

The Bruins got off to a start in game one, taking an early 2-0 lead in the first inning when Sam Swenson sent the second pitch he saw deep to left for a two-run home run. Both squads went through the second inning scoreless before the Bearcats picked up two runs in the bottom of the third to even the score at 2-2.

Willamette grabbed the lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double and picked up insurance with a run in the sixth.

Trailing 4-2 entering the seventh inning, the Bruins rallied to score two and tie the game 4-4. Chase Fetzer's one-out single ignited the inning, scoring on Kyler Brudwick's RBI double to right. After Swenson drew a walk, Jerred Seamons brought home Turner Glenn with a sacrifice fly to centerfield.

The Bearcats responded in the bottom half of the seventh, picking up one run on two hits to take a late 5-4 lead. The Bruins could not muster a baserunner late as Willamette claimed game one.

Game Two

The Bruins and Bearcats put up zeros in the first inning before Willamette scored one in the home half of the second to take a 1-0 lead. In the top of the third, Jantzen Tamanaha turned on the first pitch of the at-bat and sent it over the left field wall to tie the game at 1-1.

Willamette added one in the third, but the Bruin offense exploded in the fourth and fifth to take control.

With two outs, the Bruins picked up four runs, highlighted by a two-RBI double from Swenson and a two-RBI single from Matt Voelzke.

Leading 5-2, the Bruins continued to stay aggressive at the plate. Gavin Speagle led off the top of the sixth with a solo home run to right and Brudwick added his second double of the day, resulting in two more runs for the Bruins.

With a 9-3 lead going into the eighth inning, Tamanaha added his second home run of the game, this one on a 2-1 count. AJ Atherton's four innings of relief work gave him his fourth win of the year and the Bruins closed out the season with a big 10-3 victory.

Top Performers

Game One

Swenson finished game one with a 1-for-3 line that included his eighth homer of the year. Brudwick and Seamons each added an RBI as well in the close loss.

Game Two

The bats were hot in game two, led by Tamanaha's two long balls. Speagle's home run in the sixth was his first of the year, and Atherton's four innings of relief were highlighted six strikeouts and just one earned run.

What It Means

After taking two games from Willamette in the final series of the year, the Bruins finish with an overall record of 25-19.