By Jacob Hayes

NEWBERG --- In walk-off fashion, the George Fox baseball team beat the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, 5-4, sweeping its opening Northwest Conference series.

Recap

Out of the gate, Pacific Lutheran took advantage of poor George Fox defense. A two-base error and a double down the right field line turned into a quick run and left the Lutes with runners on second and third and only one out. Bruin starter Matt Voelzke worked out of the jam, getting a pop-up and a strike out, limiting further damage.

In their first crack at the Lute's starter the Bruins scored three runs on only one hit.  Leon Johnson III started the inning with a single to left. Travis Miller and Matt Ramirez both drew walks during their turns at the plate, loading the bases, and a wild pitch scored Johnson III to tie the game. Voelzke wore a pitch to reload the bases, another wild pitch scored Miller, and a sacrifice fly from Chase Fetzer brought in Ramirez to make the score 3-1.

The Lutes retaliated with a run in the top of the second for a 3-2 ball game. The Lutes put one runner on with a single and a throwing error moved the runner to third. A sacrifice fly pushed the runner home for the score.

The Bruins did not score in the second, but they cashed in during the bottom of the third to make it a 4-2 game. Ramirez reached on a fielder's choice and took second on a base hit through the left from Sam Swenson. Ramirez stole his way to third and Voelzke knocked an RBI single through the left side.

Voelzke held the Lutes in check through the fourth, but ran into trouble in the fifth. With one away in the frame, a catcher's interference call and a pair of singles loaded the bases. Nonetheless, Voelzke got one strikeout swinging and induced a groundout to first to squash the Lutes' rally attempt.

After missing their chance, the Lutes broke through in the sixth.  Voelzke walked the first batter he saw,  and then gave up a double to the left-center gap, scoring the runner from first. The Bruins looked to Isaac Olson to preserve the lead. A sac bunt moved the runner to third and Olson hit the next batter to put runners at the corners with one out. A fielder's choice scored the tying run from third, making the score 4-4 after the top of the sixth.

Olson held Pacific Lutheran hitless through the 7th and 8th, but the Bruins could not get anything going in their half-innings against the Lutes' closer Gregory. Sean Wiese kept the game tied in the top of the ninth, giving the Bruins a chance to walk it off in the bottom half.

Johnson III lead off the inning with a bloop single to center and Miller followed him with a bunt single after the ball got lost in a Bermuda triangle of fielders at the bag. With runners on first and second Ramirez shot a liner to left to load the bases, and Voelzke put the ball in play for a fielder's choice walk-off RBI to win the game. The Lutes' third baseman was able to keep the ball on the infield but the throw wasn't enough to get Johnson III at the dish.

Top Performers

Johnson III had two hits and two runs in his five at-bats.  Voelzke supported his cause with two RBI, including the game-winner.  Brandon King had three hits on the day in his four at bats, one home run short of the cycle. Sean Wiese tallied his first collegiate win (1-0) after striking out the side in the ninth. 

What It Means

The Bruins start their 2020 conference slate with a 3-0 record and improve to 7-2 overall. 

What Comes Next

George Fox plays its first NWC road series of the year in Tacoma, Wash., against the Puget Sound Loggers on Saturday, February 29, and Sunday, March 1.  First pitch for game one of the series is scheduled for 11:00 am at the Loggers' stadium.