Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 By: Jake Bienvenue
NEWBERG --- The George Fox softball team hosted Pacific Lutheran in games three and four of their conference matchup on Sunday, splitting the series with a 12-1 loss in game one and a 13-5 win in game two.
Recap:
Game One:
Pacific Lutheran got hot early, scratching across three runs in the top of the first. They did not stop there, however. The Lutes put up a pair of runs in the top of the second and one in the top of the third before the Bruins could respond.
Down 6-0, Kimi Ito stepped up. She hit a home run to put the home team on the board in the bottom of the third, cutting the lead to five.
The Lutes kept rolling, racking up four runs in the top of the fourth and two in the top of the fifth to put the game out of reach.
The Bruins were unable to respond in the bottom of the fifth as they lost a tough game one.
Game Two:
George Fox came into game two with a chip on their shoulder. Claire Fountain started it off by hitting a two RBI homer in the bottom of the first, giving the Bruins a 2-0 lead early.
That was just the appetizer, however, as the home team exploded for six runs in the bottom of the third. Ito hit her second home run of the day to get it started. Then, with runners on first and second, Fountain hit an RBI single to send Olivia Nelson—pinch running for Alyssa Gonzalez—home. Aaliyah Kautz singled, then advanced to second on the throw, pushing Roni Braun to home plate. A beautiful two RBI double from Allison Meyer kept the train rolling, then Allisa Yabumoto capped off the inning by batting in Meyer with a single.
The effort vaulted the Bruins even further into the lead, 8-0.
The Lutes made an effort to shift the momentum by scratching across three runs in the top of the fourth, but yet another homer from Ito kept the game out of reach, setting the score at 9-3.
Pacific Lutheran cut the lead to just four with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth, 9-5.
The Bruins were not to be stopped, however. With runners on first and second, Kautz hit an RBI double to send Braun home. Meyer kept up her solid play with a two RBI single, then Tanner Higgins capped off a huge four-run inning by batting in Kyra Thomas to end the game, 13-5.
Top Performers:
Game One:
Ito's solo homer was the bright spot for the Bruins in game one.
Game Two:
Ito kept up her impressive play with an additional two homers in only three at-bats. Meyer's four RBIs led the Bruins. Fountain had a great game as well, going a perfect 2-2 at the plate with three RBI and three runs. Winter Ridgeway got the win in the circle by allowing just six hits in five innings.
What It Means:
With the split against Pacific Lutheran, the Bruins move to 21-13 overall and 13-10 in conference play.
What Comes Next:
The Bruins host Willamette in an afternoon double-header on Friday, April 19th at 12:00pm and 2:30pm.
