By: Seth Preuss

TACOMA --- The Bruins opened their 2019 Northwest Conference campaign with a doubleheader against Pacific Lutheran on Saturday, February 23. The two sides split the afternoon with a 3-1 win for the Lutes in game one and a 2-0 win for the Bruins in game two.

Recap:

Game One:

The Bruins put Christopher Stone on the mound and got six innings from their right-handed starter. Stone struck out three and walked three in his first loss of the year. Isaac Olson and Chase Fetzer finished the game for the Bruins with two innings of scoreless baseball.

The Bruins fell behind early after giving up a run on a sacrifice fly in the first inning. The Lutes added two more runs to their side of the scoreboard in the third inning to keep the pressure on the Bruins.

In the top of the fifth, the Bruins were able to put a run on the board after a bunt single from Colby Watilo allowed Jerred Seamons to cruise home and make it a 3-1 game. Neither team would score after that, however, and the game came to a close in well under 90 minutes from first pitch in a fast-paced pitchers' duel.

Game Two:

George Fox jumped in front early in game two. A leadoff double from Matt Voelzke started the game on the right note and a Lutes error allowed Voelzke to score after Seamons put a ball in play on the right side of the infield.

The Bruins got seven and a third shutout innings from Landon Schirer to hold on their 1-0 lead late into the game. Schirer racked up eight strikeouts and pounded the zone all afternoon, never surrendering a walk against 30 batters faced. Voelzke shut the door for his second save of the year with a one and two-thirds performance, striking out three and keeping a clean sheet for the combined shutout.

After the teams continued to put up clean frames in the following innings, the Bruins broke the scoring drought with another run in the eighth. Seamons drew a walk to get aboard, made his way to second on a single from Trevor Nannini, and came in to score on an RBI single from Matt Ramirez. With Voelzke holding it down on the mound, the 2-0 advantage for the Bruins would hold as the final score.

Top Performers:

Game One:

Seamons went 2-4 at the plate with the Bruins' only run of the game and Derek Johnson was 2-3 at the dish in a game where the Bruins otherwise struggled at the plate against the Lutes' ace.

Game Two:

The Bruins' defense did a great job backing up their pitching in the second game, and Schirer was locked in with his eight Ks. Seamons was involved in both scoring plays for the Bruins after helping plate Voelzke in the first and cruising home himself in the eighth, and Voelzke helped with his arm and his bat to secure the win.

What It Means:

The Bruins snapped a three-game losing skid with the win and improve to 4-5 overall and 1-1 in NWC competition.

What Happens Next:

George Fox finishes its first conference series with a single game at Pacific Lutheran beginning at 12:00 pm.