Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 By: Jake Bienvenue
NEWBERG --- The George Fox softball team hosted DePauw for a midweek nonconference doubleheader on Thursday, winning game one, 14-6, and taking game two, 5-4, in walk-off fashion.
Recap:
Game One:
The Bruins exploded in the bottom of the first. They started it off by loading the bases up and then Savannah Vargas walked to allow Alyssa Gonzalez to score. The Tigers walked Claire Fountain as well, sending Roni Braun home. Aaliyah Kautz reached on a fielder's choice, which brought home Allison Meyer for the third run of the inning. Allisa Yabumoto had a two-RBI single as Fountain and Vargas reached home. Kimi Ito capped off the inning with a two-RBI double of her own, giving the Bruins a huge 7-0 lead.
George Fox kept on the gas pedal in the bottom of the second. Braun doubled to right center field and then Vargas homered to put two runs on the board. Fountain walked and Kautz doubled to left field to put runners on second and third. Yabumoto batted in Fountain with a groundout to the shortstop. The Bruins held a firm 10-0 lead after just two innings.
DePauw came back with a run in the top of the third and two in the top of the fourth to cut the lead to 10-3.
The Bruins widened the gap by scratching across three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Yabumoto batted in Olivia Nelson and Ito hit a sac-fly to allow Fountain to score. Gonzalez finished it off with a single to left field, bringing Yabumoto home, 13-3.
The Tigers scratched across three runs in the top of the fifth, but one more run from the Bruins in the bottom of the inning sent the mercy rule into play, 14-6.
Game Two:
DePauw struck first in game two, scratching across a run in the top of the third and two in the top of the fourth to take an early 3-0 lead.
The Bruins responded with a run in the bottom of the fourth, as Meyer doubled to left field and then Yabumoto batted in her in with a sac-fly.
Down 3-1 in the bottom of the seventh, the Bruins were in a must-score position. Ito singled and then advanced to second on a fielding error. Braun walked, and then Vargas stepped up and doubled to left center field. Both Ito and Braun reached home for the Bruins to tie it up at 3-3, which forced the game into extra innings.
After five scoreless innings, the Tigers managed to scratch across a run in the top of the 14th to put the pressure on George Fox, 4-3.
The Bruins were once again able to come up clutch, as Gonzalez and Braun smashed back-to-back home runs to steal the game, 5-4.
Top Performers:
Game One:
Yabumoto paced the Bruins in game one, going 2-3 at the plate, batting in four runners and reaching home twice. Ito and Vargas each batted in three runners, and Kautz finished with two RBI.
Ashley Davis grabbed her fifth win of the season in three innings of play.
Game Two:
Vargas batted in a pair of runners to tie the game, and Gonzalez and Braun hit the home runs to steal it to power the Bruins to victory.
Winter Ridgeway went a career-best 12 innings for the Bruins, recording six strikeouts. With the game tied, Sarah Storton came in and grabbed the win in two innings of work.
What It Means:
The Bruins move to 13-9 overall and remain at 5-6 in conference play.
What Comes Next:
The Bruins host Pacific (Ore.) in a doubleheader on Saturday, March 30th at 12:00 pm and 2:30 pm.
