By Seth Preuss

PORTLAND --- The George Fox baseball team finished its Northwest Conference series against Lewis & Clark with a doubleheader at the Pios' home field on Sunday, March 10. The Bruins completed their second series sweep of the year with an 18-9 win in game one and a 9-1 win in game two.

Recap

Game One

Landon Schirer worked five and a third innings in his third win of 2019 after striking out six batters and allowing three runs on seven hits in his start. Nate Leid worked two and two thirds of an inning in relief and Zach Stouder paired with JC Gross to close the ninth.

The Bruins' bats put up two early runs in the first for a lead they would never relinquish. A sacrifice fly from Kyler Brudwick plated Derek Johnson from third, and Jerred Seamons followed that with a solo shot for the 2-0 lead.

A pair of doubles from Matt Voelzke and Johnson plated three runs in the second, and Matt Ramirez launched a solo shot to left field for a 6-0 lead by the middle of the third frame. The Pioneers scored the next three runs to cut the lead in half by the end of the sixth frame, but the Bruins exploded for a six-run seventh to create more separation.

A triple from Johnson got the party started by plating Voelzke and Jason Garcia, and a Pios error allowed Johnson to score from third. A three-run shot from Ramirez pushed three more runs across to give the Bruins a 12-3 lead by the seventh-inning stretch.

Ramirez hit an RBI single to score Seamons in the eighth, and the Bruins' reserves tacked on five more runs in the ninth. Marc Audet lifted a homer out in left field to score Garcia and Colby Watilo, and Sam Swenson and Jason Tamahana each drove in a run for an 18-3 lead. The Pioneers scored six in the bottom half of the ninth but the rally fell well short in the 18-9 victory.

Game Two

The Bruins put Chase Fetzer on the hill in game two and Fetzer picked up his first win of the season after five shutout innings of work and four strikeouts. Isaac Olson worked three innings of four-hit, one-run baseball in relief, and Voelzke struck out the side to close the ninth.

The Bruins plated two runs in the first to set the tone for the final game of the series. A leadoff walk by Voelzke turned into a run after an RBI single from Ramirez, and an error by the Pios' catcher allowed Johnson to score from third after a steal by Ramirez.

After a pair of scoreless frames in the second and third, Fetzer supported himself with a solo shot in the top of the fourth for an early 3-0 lead. The Pios got on the board with a run in the sixth, but George Fox plated three in response in the seventh.

Johnson got on with a single and scored on a double to right center from Brudwick, and Fetzer followed that with a double down the left line to plate Seamons and Brudwick. The Bruins' pitching shut the Pios down for the final innings and the Bruins added three insurance runs in the ninth after a Ramirez double, a Voelzke single, and a ball put in play by Tamahana for the 9-1 final.

Top Performers

Game One

Ramirez led the way with a four for five day at the plate, including two homers, and produced two runs and four RBI as well. Garcia also went four for five at the dish with three runs scored and two doubles, and Seamons was three for four with a walk, three runs scored, and a homer.

Game Two

Brudwick went three for five with two doubles, a run scored, and a run driven in. Fetzer did a bit of everything with four strikeouts as a pitcher and a two for four day at the plate with a homer, three RBI, and a double.

What It Means

The Bruins improve to 10-6 overall in their 2019 campaign and are 7-2 against NWC competition. The Bruins' bats have been red-hot in their last two series as they have averaged better than nine runs per game in their last six contests.

What Happens Next

The Bruins return to Morse Athletic Field on March 16 & 17 to play host for Linfield College.