NEWBERG, Ore. --- George Fox won its first Northwest Conference series of the 2022 season with a 10-2 statement victory against Pacific Lutheran on Sunday, Mar. 6, to close the series out.

How It Happened

Ben Wills got the start and went through the seventh for Fox in an impressive outing that featured five strikeouts and one run allowed on seven hits. Wills kept the Lutes quiet all day and induced multiple double-play grounders for Fox. Alex Abbott would come on to close the game with two innings of work, allowing one unearned run on one hit while striking out one.

After two and half quiet innings sped by, Fox slowed the game down in the third with two runs and a loaded-bases opportunity that the Lutes' starter was forced to pick his way through. The Bruins got one run in with an RBI groundout from Tyler Durant, and Jeremy Sangalang cruised in after a pitch skipped away from the catcher.

The Lutes answered with one in the fourth, but the Bruins erupted for five runs in the fifth to put the game in the fridge. Jared Miller drew a walk, stole second, and was joined in scoring position by Sangalang moments later. Brandon King drove in both runners with a single and took second after the Lutes tried to catch Sangalang at home. Spencer Roos wore one to get on base, and Noah Meffert took the cover off with a laser into center field for a three-run shot and his first collegiate bomb and a 7-1 Bruin lead. 

Fox added two more in the sixth with a two-run shot from Sangalang pulled to left field, and the Bruins put the brakes on in the seventh. Multiple Bruins hit what otherwise would have been extra-base knocks, but were held up as Fox went station to station out of courtesy. Meffert cruised home to score and make it 10-1, and the Lutes' run in the top of the ninth was well shy of the mark for a rally in the 10-2 final.

Top Performances

Meffert was a revelation at the plate for the Bruins with a 3-5 performance that featured a homer, three RBI, and two runs scored. Breyndon Nakamura doubled and tripled, Miller stole two bags, and Sangalang homered and stole a base in the rout. Roos showed off his arm behind the dish as well, gunning down three would-be base stealers at second.

Coach's Thoughts

"It's great to get a series win, and Ben was phenomenal for us on the hill today and gave us one of those great outings you need to get a win against a team like [PLU]," coach Kevin Kopple said afterward. "It was great to get good AB's from guys like Noah and Breyndon today too."

What It Means

Fox improves to 9-8 on the year and levels off at 3-3 in conference with a quality series win, while the Lutes drop to 9-5 overall and are 5-4 in conference.

Up Next

Fox hosts NCAA DII foe Western Oregon on Tuesday, Mar. 8, in a non-conference midweek matchup at 2:00 pm.