By Jacob Hayes

TACOMA --- The George Fox baseball team took both double-header games against the Puget Sound Loggers by finals of 12-1 and 7-5 to claim the season series on day one.

Recap:

Game One:

It didn't take long for the Bruins to get on the board, jumping out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Sam Swenson hit a double to center, scoring Trevor Nannini from second and advancing Matt Ramirez to third, setting up Matt Voelzke for a two-RBI single to left.  

After a 1-2-3 inning to finish the first, the Bruins scored four more runs to extend their lead. With two outs, Leon Johnson III doubled home Matthew Sebolsky to keep the inning alive. Nannini followed that up with a double of his own, scoring Johnson III. To top it off, Ramirez homered to left field in the following at bat, making the score 7-0.

Puget Sound sneaked in a run in the bottom of the fifth, but the Bruins continued to score in the sixth.  After a bases loaded wild pitch that scored Nannini from third, Voelzke hit another RBI single to score Ramirez. Chase Fetzer knocked in Swenson with a sacrifice fly and another wild pitch scored Voelzke all the way from second, extending the lead to 11-1. The last run of the game was scored in the top of the seventh off of an error, finalizing the score at 12-1.  

Game Two:

The Blue and Gold struck first again in the second game, scoring two runs in the top of the second. With two outs, Chase Fetzer started the rally with a double to left field. After a walk, Cutter Kitson singled to load the bases. Jared Gee drew a walk, bringing home Fetzer, and Marc Audet scored soon after on a wild pitch. Nannini scored the Bruins' third run in the second after walking and swiping second before Sam Swenson knocked him in.  

Though they were down three, the Loggers were set on staying in the game. In the bottom go the third, pitcher Landon Schirer found himself in some trouble. After the first two batters reached on a hit-by-pitch and walk, a sacrifice fly got the first batter home. With two outs, the damage looked to be done, but Schirer walked two more batters to load the bases. A base hit would have likely tied the game, but a fly-out to center ended the jam.

In the top of the fourth, the Bruins made sure the game would not be close any longer. Kitson singled and made his way to third before Leon Johnson III drew a walk and stole second. Nannini knocked in both with a double down the left field line to make the score 5-1. With a runner on second and two outs, Swenson got the clutch hit, also doubling down the left field line to make the lead 6-0.

Schirer only allowed one more run in the bottom of the fifth - a leadoff double, followed by a single got runners on the corners with no outs. A sacrifice fly scored the runner from third, but that was all the Loggers could muster.  

The Bruins tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth courtesy of Matthew Sebolsky going yard over the left field wall, but the game was not over yet. In the bottom of the inning, Puget Sound strung together some productive at-bats against reliever Isaac Olson, prompting coach Kevin Kopple to make a pitching change. Sean Wiese entered the game to close it down, but he gave up a single up the middle to score two. A sacrifice fly cut the lead further, bringing the tying run to the plate.  Wiese struck him out, ending the threat and the game with a final score of 7-5.  

Top Performers:  

In game one, Christopher Stone earned the win with six strong innings of one-run baseball, surrendering his only run in the bottom of the fifth, a home run from Ricardo Barraza. Voelzke finished the first game 4-5 with three RBIs and a run. Ramirez was 3-4 with two RBIs and three runs of his own, including a home run. Swenson went 3-5 with three doubles, an RBI, and two runs.  

Game two featured Nannini and Swenson again. Both drove in two runs in four at bats each. Kitson had a breakout performance on offense and went 3-4 with a run scored, and Sebolsky homered in his only at-bat. Schirer went seven full innings, only allowing two runs on four hits.

What It Means:  

The Bruins continue their undefeated start to conference play, finishing the day at 5-0against NWC teams and 9-2 overall.

What Happens Next:  

George Fox looks to complete the sweep of the Loggers on Sunday, March 1. First pitch is scheduled for 12:00pm at the Logger Baseball Stadium.