NEWBERG, Ore. --- George Fox baseball welcomed Pacific Lutheran to town for its home opener on Saturday, Mar. 5, and after suffering a 16-1 loss in the first game, Fox won with some theatrics after an 11th-inning walkoff win in game two.
Game One
The Bruins' offense struggled to find its rhythm in game one, squandering another good start from Sean Wiese on the mound. Wiese went six and a third for the Bruins but only got one run of support, and Fox went to the back half of its bullpen to close the game in what became a 16-1 defeat to start the afternoon.
Game Two
Fox bounced back to split the day in game two. Travis Miller got the start in a no-decision outing of five innings, Andrew Sutherland bridged the gap with four scoreless frames, and Noah Meffert closed it out with a win after two shutout frames to earn his third win of the season. Together, the Bruins' arms in the second game combined for seven strikeouts.
The game was low-scoring and high-intrigue throughout, but it really got interesting in the eighth. Fox held PLU scoreless and scored with an RBI single to opposite field from Jeremy Sangalang, plating Jared Gee for the tying run at 2-2.
Both teams struggled to find their balance against each other's best closing arms, but the Bruins won out in the 11th. Tyler Durant led off with knock to opposite field - his second of the game - in the 11th and then jogged home after Shane White laced an RBI single into left for the 3-2 final.
Top Performances
White's walkoff single and Durant's lead-off performance in the 11th of game two were the difference-makers on offense for Fox, while Jonathan Stone was able to leave the ballpark - and possibly Earth's orbit - with a homer in game one. Meffert was electric in his win in game two for Fox, and Brandon King made several key snags at shortstop, including an unassisted line-out double play in the 10th.
Coach's Thoughts
Soon to come.
What It Means
George Fox moves to 8-8 overall and is 2-3 in NWC competitions, while the Lutes are now 9-4 overall and 5-3 in NWC games.
Up Next
The Bruins will try to take game three of the series on Sunday, Mar. 6, with first pitch scheduled for 12:00 pm.
