Box Score By: Jake Bienvenue
McMINNVILLE --- The Bruins faced off against Pacific in day two of the Northwest Conference softball tournament on Saturday, earning a solid 8-4 win to advance to game five of the tournament.
Recap:
The Bruins wasted no time, scratching across a run in the top of the first to get things going. Alyssa Gonzalez doubled down the left field line, then Roni Braun batted her in with a double of her own.
George Fox kept it up in the top of the second, as a homer from Savannah Vargas put the Bruins up by two.
The Boxers stormed back, putting up three runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-2 lead, but the Boxers' lead was short-lived.
The Bruins responded in the top of the fourth, as Braun and Claire Fountain hit back-to-back homers to give the team a 4-3 advantage. Pacific then evened the score with a run in the bottom of the fourth.
In the top of the sixth, with the game tied and a chance to go ahead, the Bruins locked in and put up three runs to take the lead. Allisa Yabumoto batted in Kyra Thomas with a double, then Makenna Martin smashed a two-RBI home run to finish off the solid inning.
Yet another home run, this time from Gonzalez, was enough to put away the Boxers and earn a solid tournament win, 8-4.
Top Performers:
Martin's two-RBI home run was pivotal in the win, and that coming on just one at-bat. Braun finished with a pair of RBIs as well and four other Bruins batted in runners to complete the solid team effort.
What It Means:
The Bruins move to 1-1 in the conference tournament and 26-15 overall and avoid elimination in the tournament with the win.
What Comes Next:
The Bruins will face the loser of Linfield vs. Whitworth on Saturday, April 27th at 7:00pm.
