NEWBERG, Ore. --- The George Fox softball team used two fifth inning rallies to sweep a non-conference series against Whitier on Saturday, taking down the Poets 6-2 in the first game and 5-1 in the second.
Game One
Ashley Davis came out of the gates dealing strikes. The senior pitched for nearly three innings before giving up a hit, and never let the Poets get close. Despite giving up six hits, David did not allow a Whittier score until a two-run home run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, when the game was out of reach.
While Davis' efforts would not go unappreciated, the Bruin offense did not pick up until late. A Kimberly Pulido single in the bottom of the first inning drove in one run, but the Bruins bats fell silent after that. For the next three innings, Fox managed to get only one runner on base.
That all changed in the fifth. With the score still 1-0 thanks to Davis, a Katie Ladd solo shot opened the floodgates. The Bruins scored five runs in the inning, taking advantage of three Whittier errors in the inning. By the time all was said and done, Fox led 6-0, a lead they would never renounce.
Game Two
The second of Saturday's games played out eerily similar to the first. Once again, the Bruins were bolstered by excellent pitching. Emma Eastman made her first start in two weeks and only allowed three hits in an impressive showing. Those three hits translated to one run for the Poets in the third inning.
The Bruin offense also started game two in the same exact fashion as the first: with a Pulido single to bring in a run. Once again, the Bruins struggled to score for the next three innings before coming alive in the fifth. This time, though, Fox utilized several walks to load the bases, before scoring two runs off of walks.
When Kamryn Potter doubled down the right field line, Chloe White's hustle helped put away the game for the Bruins. White, used as a pinch runner in nearly every occasion, ran from first base to home, barely beating out the throw from the outfield and sliding into a 5-1 lead. After three more outs from Eastman, Fox left Morse Athletic Field victorious.
Top Performances
Katie Ladd hit the only home run of the day for the Bruins for her only hit of the day, but also scored one more thanks to a beanball. Kimberly Pulido picked up an impressive four hits and two RBIs on the afternoon, while Kamryn Potter tallied three hits and three RBIs.
What It Means
Fox's record improves at 17-9 overall this season, while the Poets now hold a 13-9 mark.
Up Next
The Bruins will head out to Tacoma to finish up their series with Puget Sound, in a makeup of their two games from Feb. 27 that was postponed due to rain. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
