By Jacob Hayes

NEWBERG, Ore. --- George Fox baseball won both of their doubleheader games on Sunday, Mar. 7, in Newberg by finals of 12-11 and 11-6 to take the weekend series 3-1.  

How It Happened

The Bruins started with a bang in the bottom of the first, scoring four runs capped by an Emery Miller 3-run homer over the right-field fence.  Scoring went back and forth with Whitworth and George Fox trading the lead until the top of the seventh.  With the lead in the hands of the Pirates at 10-8, they looked to tack on more.  A fly ball hit to right field looked to be deep enough to score a tag-up from third, but Leon Johnson III gunned him down to end the inning.  Then, in the bottom of the seventh, Marc Audet hit a 3-run homer of his own, taking back the lead at 11-10.  The lead didn't last as Whitworth threatened to score big again in the top of the eighth.  One run was already in, but Johnson came up huge again, gunning down a tag-up runner from third to end the inning a second time.  The Bruins etched out a run in the bottom of the eighth and closed it out in the ninth to win a nail-biter game one 12-11.  

The Pirates got out to a 1-0 lead in game two, but the Bruins picked up right where they left off at the plate, knocking in six runs of their own in the bottom of the first.  Mason Arnold's double scored two to start the barrage and Cutter Kitson's clutch two-out hitting brought in two more.  Arnold continued his hot day at the plate with a 3-run homer in the second inning, followed by another two-out hit from Kitson, bringing the Bruin run total to 10. Though a few Pirate homers kept their hopes alive, the early runs were too much to overcome.  Chase Fetzer pitched for the save, allowing only one run over three innings, finalizing the score at 11-6.

Top Performers

Miller finished the day 3-for-4 with 4 RBI, two runs, a double, a homer, and a 1.750 SLG%. Audet kept pace with four more RBI, Arnold went 3-for-4 with five RBI and two runs, and Kitson hit 2-for-4 with three RBI and a run of his own.

Their Thoughts

"It was great to see us swing the bats well today," said skipper Kevin Kopple after the Sunday sweep. "Guys put together really good at-bats today in key situations throughout the day. We made enough pitches and some defensive plays to win a back-and-forth game three [to start the day]. We have lots of work to do but [this is] a good step forward for us."

What It Means

The Bruins are now 5-3 on the year while the Pirates continue their fall to 1-6.

What Happens Next

George Fox begins conference play on Mar. 13 at Morse Athletic Fields against the Willamette Bearcats.  First pitch of Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled for 11:00 am.