DEMOREST, Ga. --- George Fox Softball picked up two more shutout wins on No. 14 Piedmont University's campus, including a 1-0 win over their host and a 7-0 win over No. 17 Berry (Ga.), on Saturday to continue its hot start in the 2022 season.
Game One - Piedmont
The Bruins fought with No. 14 Piedmont through four scoreless innings as Ashley Davis spun a gem against the Lions' starter. Davis ended as the winner of a 1-0 shutout after scattering two hits and and eight strikeouts through her seven innings - only two runners reached base and none made it past second against Davis in a dominant outing. The senior struck out two in the final inning, including the final batter with a looking strike, to clinch the win.
On offense, the Bruins broke up Piedmont's shutout bid in the fifth. Jennifer McCue got on with a single and Maclairen Macgruder pinch-ran, moving to second on a sac bunt before scoring on an RBI single pulled into right field by Kamryn Potter for the winning run.
Game Two - Berry
Fox finished the day with a 7-0 win over No. 17 Berry after two single tallies and an explosive seventh inning paired with more great pitching.
Emma Eastman grabbed the shutout baton from Davis and kept the good times going with six strikeouts and five hits spread through seven frames.
The Bruins took a lead with a run in the second after a Claire Fountain single turned into a run after an RBI groundout from McCue.
Fox added a second run in the fourth frame after Kimberly Pulido singled her way onto the base paths and came into score after Sydney Sandifer executed a squeeze play to perfection.
Nursing a 2-0 lead after six innings, and the Bruins broke it open with five in the top of the seventh to put the game in the fridge. Potter laced a two-run homer out of the yard, Katie Ladd pushed a two-RBI double to opposite field, and Pulido hit an RBI single to plate Ladd for the 7-0 final score.
Top Performers
Davis and Eastman struck out 14 in 14 scoreless innings, combined, and only allowed eight runners to reach base on the day. Fountain reached base three of four times, doubled, and scored twice in game two, while Potter homered and Ladd added another big hit with her two-RBI double in game two.
Defensively, Fox was on point as a team with no errors and only 49 batters faced in 14 innings in the field, keeping their pitchers' effort to a minimum in the circle with good support all around.
Coach's Thoughts
Soon to come.
What It Means
Fox is now 5-1 on the year with a statement win over a ranked opponent on its record. It's still early in the year, but this Bruin roster looks incredibly formidable when it fires on all cylinders and should be fun to watch all year long.
Up Next
The Bruins close out their Georgia trip with a repeat of today's matchups on Sunday, February 20.
