NEWBERG --- George Fox baseball lost its Northwest Conference series against Lewis & Clark on Sunday, Mar. 8, after surrendering an early lead in a 9-6 defeat at home.

Recap

George Fox struck first with a two-RBI single from Matt Voelzke in the bottom of the first to take a 2-0 lead. The Bruins tacked on three more in the bottom of the second after the Pioneers committed two errors in the frame.

A pair of singles from Brandon King and Cutter Kitson put runners on the corners for Jared Gee, and the Pios misplayed Gee's sac bunt attempt to allow King to score and Gee to reach safely. Trevor Nannini lifted a single into left field to plate Kitson, and another Pio error brought Gee in afterwards for a 5-0 lead after two innings.

Everything went the Pios' way after that, however. After climbing on the scoreboard with an RBI single in the third to make it 5-1, the Pios scratched three across in the fourth to make it 5-4. Another big inning in the seventh gave the Pios the lead for good after a four-run frame made it 8-5, and an insurance run in the eighth gave Lewis & Clark a 9-5 lead.

A Sam Swenson moon shot in the bottom of the frame made it 9-6, but that was the last run for either side as the Bruins lost their momentum early and never fully recovered.

Top Performers

Voelzke lasted six frames in a no-decision outing and struck out 11 batters, including four in a single inning after a bad throw on a dropped third strike allowed a batter to reach safely. Swenson went two for four with a solo shot as the Bruins' best option at the plate.

What It Means

The Bruins fall to 11-4 overall and are 7-2 in conference play after losing their first NWC series of the season. The defeat dropped Fox into a tie for first in the NWC with Pacific (Ore.) after the loss gave Lewis & Clark its first NWC series win of 2020.

What Happens Next

The Bruins make their second NWC road trip of the 2020 season next weekend to face Linfield in McMinnville., Ore., on Saturday, Mar. 14.