McMINNVILLE, Ore. --- The No. 23 George Fox softball team stayed on the winners' side of the 2022 Northwest Conference bracket after surviving a tough Pacific Lutheran team at the Linfield Wildcats' stadium.

How It Happened

The Lutes were able to hold down the Bruins' hitters for five innings in a back-and-forth pitchers' duel. Ashley Davis got the start and worked her 22nd complete game of the year to earn her nation-best 22nd win, but it was not without drama.

Davis ultimately struck out five and walked three in the victory, but PLU was able to find her pitches multiple times for five extra-base hits, including a homer and four doubles.

After the Lutes broke up a shutout bid in the third with three runs, the Bruins' offense finally clicked into gear in the sixth. The Bruins showed their patience and loaded the bases via three walks with two outs, and an RBI walk by Katie Ladd plated the Bruins' first run of the night. A bases-clearing double from Kamryn Potter scored three more to take a 4-3 lead, and Claire Fountain chased Potter in with another two-out RBI double. Sharon Tomei hit one past the Lutes' third baseman and Fountain scored on the misplay for a 6-3 lead. PLU put up two more runs with one big swing from their star utility player, but their comeback bid came out short after Davis induced three foul-territory flyouts to end the game.

Top Performances

As a team, the Bruins showed their patience and composure with the six-run, two-out rally in the sixth inning. The Bruins got doubles from Kimberly Pulido, Potter, and Fountain in the game, and Potter's three RBI were a game-high.

What It Means

Fox improves to 31-10 overall and stays on the winners' side of the bracket, while PLU drops to 28-13 overall and is into the losers' bracket. The Lutes and Whitworth will play an elimination game to start the second day of the tournament tomorrow morning. 

Up Next

Fox faces top-seeded tournament host, No. 8 Linfield, in a winner vs. winner matchup at 2:30 pm tomorrow afternoon. The winner of that game will play for the championship on Sunday, while the loser will turn around to play against the winner of tomorrow morning's elimination game. The full remaining bracket is below.

Saturday, April 23rd

Game 3 – 12:00 pm Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2

Game 4 – 2:30 pm Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2

Game 5 – 5:00 pm Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4

Sunday, April 24th

Game 6 – 12:00 pm Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5

Game 7 (if necessary) – 2:30 pm (Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 Loser)