By Josh Nutter

TACOMA, Wash. --- The George Fox softball team travelled north to face off with Pacific Lutheran on Friday afternoon for the first two games of an NWC four-game series. The Bruins entered with a 6-2 NWC record and in second place in the conference. The Bruins claimed a day one sweep, edging out a pair of one run wins, 2-1 in the first game and 9-8 in game two. 

How It Happened

The opener was a low-scoring affair. The 'Lutes got a homer from Erin McGrath in the first inning to take an early lead. The Bruins responded in the third inning when Claire Fountain doubled to score Kamryn Potter and knot the score at 1-1. George Fox took the lead for good in the fourth inning when Kimberly Pulido lined a double to center field and Emma Classen crossed the plate to put the Bruins ahead 2-1. Ashley Davis and the Bruins defense held the PLU bats to zeroes the rest of the game and George Fox claimed a 1-0 victory. 

The Bruins put on some fireworks early in game two. Savannah Vargas launched a two-run homer to right field in the top of the first, followed by Claire Fountain with a solo shot in the very next at-bat to put George Fox up 3-0 after an inning. Maclairen Magruder scored on a Jennifer McCue base hit in the third to make it 4-0. The Bruins weren't done in the third though, just a few batters later Kimberly Pulido stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and sent one sky high to right center for a grand slam, 8-0 Bruins. Pacific Lutheran responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs to make it 8-3 after three innings. The 'Lutes added another run in the fifth to cut the Bruins' lead to four. 

George Fox continued to carry the lead into the bottom of the seventh when Pacific Lutheran's bats came to life. McGrath homered to cut the lead to one run with two outs. Casey Wright brought the 'Lutes all the way back with two strikes and two outs and hit a homer to tie the game up at 8-8 and force extra innings.  

In the top of the ninth, the Bruins had runners on the corners when Katie Ladd hit a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Kamryn Potter from third to give the Bruins a 9-8 lead going into the bottom of the frame. The Bruins defense was all business in the bottom nine, with the George Fox outfield tracking down three straight line drives to put the game away for good to earn the sweep. 

Top Performers

Pulido was responsible for five runs on the day, with the game winner in game one and her grand slam in game two, leading the Bruins offense at the plate. Claire Fountain also had a strong day at the plate, accounting for one run in each game, including her solo homer in the second game. Davis' 10 strikeouts in game one helped keep the 'Lutes off the bases to earn the victory in game one.

What It Means

The Bruins are 13-6 on the year and sit at second in the NWC standings with an 8-2 conference record.

What Happens Next

The Bruins and 'Lutes will finish off the series with a doubleheader tomorrow starting at noon.