DEMOREST, Ga. --- The George Fox women's softball team fought hard but came up short against No. 14 Piedmont (Ga.) and No. 17 Berry (Ga.) to finish their Georgia trip.
Game One
The Bruins fell behind early, 0-6, in the second frame and were never quite able to dig out of that hole against Piedmont. After the Lions' initial six-run burst, Fox plated five unanswered to cut into the lead. Sydney Sandifer and Kamryn Potter got aboard for Sharon Tomei in the third and the freshman utility player lifted her second three-run homer out in left field to make it 6-3.
The Bruins added another run in the fourth after a sacrifice fly from Jennifer McCue plated Brooke Riggins, and in the fifth Katie Ladd drove in Claire Fountain with an RBI single to left center field to make it 6-5.
Fox showed good mental toughness to fight back into contention, but the rally fell short after Piedmont found its swings again in the late innings. The Lions finished the game off with seven unanswered runs to walk off a run-rule victory in the sixth with a 13-5 final.
Game Two
Ashley Davis suffered her first loss of the season after working another full game for the Bruins, striking out six and walking one without surrendering an earned run in the game.
Berry scored the only run of the game in the third inning after getting a runner to third base with a double and a sacrifice bunt. With one out on the board, Davis made a great reaction play and caught a liner back to the circle. After the snag she tried to double up the runner at third, but her throw to the bag was high and Berry scored on the error.
Fox was able to get a runner in scoring position in the fourth with a leadoff double from Potter but couldn't bring her home. The Bruins got Kimberly Pulido to second in the fifth after a single and a sacrifice bunt, but they stranded her as well before going down in order to close the game with a 1-0 final for Berry.
Top Performers
While Davis didn't earn a win, she was almost flawless otherwise in the circle again and lowered her season ERA to 1.12 with six punchouts. Fountain went 3-3 in game one with a run scored, Tomei homered, and Potter doubled to lead the Bruins at the plate.
Coach's Thoughts
Soon to come.
What It Means
The Bruins are now 5-3 on the year with two split series against a pair of Top 20 opponents and will come back to Newberg with a strong resume heading into conference play.
Up Next
The Bruins face Puget Sound on Feb. 26 & 27 to open Northwest Conference play in Tacoma next weekend.
