NEWBERG, Ore. --- The George Fox softball team was eliminated from the 2021 Northwest Conference Tournament on Friday, May 7, after a pair of losses to No. 2-seeded Linfield and No. 4-seeded Whitworth.

How It Happened

The Bruins started the day in the winners' bracket with a game-four matchup against the Wildcats. Linfield built an early 2-0 lead with a homer and a double through three innings. George Fox got one run back by pairing a triple by Kimberly Pulido and a sac fly to make 2-1 after three full frames, but the 'Cats tacked on two more in the middle innings. A solo shot to right field from Emma Classen made it 4-2 but the Cats' bats had more answers and widened the gap to a 6-2 lead after getting help from a Bruin miscue on defense. The Bruins added one last run in the sixth but two more Cats tallies put the game away, 8-3.

The Bruins faced Whitworth for the sixth time in 2021 in the second elimination game of the afternoon. George Fox immediately fell behind, 5-0, in the top of the first frame. Whitworth tacked on two more with a two-run shot in the 3rd for a 7-0 lead that the Bruins weren't able to overcome.

Katie Ladd homered and drove in a run in the fourth and fifth frames to give Fox life, and a Caitlyn Rhoades RBI singles made it 7-3, but the Pirates tacked on two more in the sixth to put the game in the fridge.

With the Bruins' backs against the wall, Rhoades lifted a three-run shot out in straightaway center to make it a 9-6 ball game, but the Bruins weren't able to catch up and the 9-6 score held for the final.

Top Performers

Ashley Davis entered in relief against the Pirates and worked five innings of two-hit, two-run softball. Pulido tripled, Rhoades and Ladd both homered, and Kamryn Potter, Savannah Vargas, and Olivia Nelson each produced a double on the day.

What It Means

The Bruins' 2021 season has come to a halt as they await the results of the other conference tournaments around the nation and the NCAA selection show. George Fox moves to 28-10 overall after the day's results.