TACOMA, Wash. -- After a bye weekend and a snowed-out game, It had been nearly one month since the George Fox softball team took the field. The Bruins returned to play in Tacoma, losing two close games in tough fashion, 4-5 and 0-1.
Game One
All four runs scored on Saturday came in one swing of the bat from
Sharon Tomei in the second inning. After stranding three runners on base in the top of the first and giving up two runs in the bottom of the first, Fox once again put three players on base in the second. After
Claire Fountain reached via a walk, Brook Riggins reached base after a throwing error, and
Kamryn Potter got on with a single. With two outs and the bases loaded,
Sharon Tomei walloped a ball on the first pitch she saw, a grand slam to give Fox the 4-2 lead.
After a scoreless third inning, the Lutes tied the game on a triple from Mari Foster. It was the only hit of the inning for Pacific Lutheran, who had two runners on base thanks to two hit-by pitches.
The Bruins picked up one hit in both the fifth and sixth inning, but had their best chance of the day in the top of the sixth: Fox loaded the bases with just one out and an opportunity to take the lead. With
Jailynn Lozano,
Madelyn Loughary, and
Aliya Harmon all on base, Fox failed to get the ball out of the infield with a pop-up and ground-out.
It would not take PLU long to take advantage of the situation. Pitcher
Kami Gibson managed to put two away before Erin McGrath stepped up to the plate. With the score tied, 4-4. The senior took the first pitch she saw and sent it deep into left field to hand the Bruins their third consecutive loss via walk-off with a gut-wrenching solo shot.
Game Two
While the first game was full of fireworks, the second quickly shifted to a pitcher's duel. Bruin ace
Ashley Davis only gave up two hits on the afternoon to the Lutes, while Fox only managed four on PLU's Amaya Smith.
Both of the Lutes' hits came in the bottom of the second inning, thanks to a single from Chaella Galapon and an RBI double from Paola Garcia. Though Davis pitched stunningly in the game, allowing only one other baserunner the rest of the game, Fox was unable to put a run on the board.
Fox's best chance of game two came in the fourth inning when
Reagan Medina doubled, then advanced to third on a fly ball The freshman couldn't get to home plate, though, with the inning ending on a pop-out. The Bruins gave one last gasp in the seventh, with
Sydney Sandifer reaching second base with one out, before the game ended on a fly-out and a strikeout, the final score 0-1.
Top Performances
Tomei finished the day with an additional hit, along with her grand slam, to finish with four RBIs. Potter and
Kimberly Pulido were the other Bruins to total two hits on the day. Davis struck out three in her six innings pitched, while Gibson struck out seven.
What It Means
With the losses, the Bruins have now lost their last four games by four total runs, and drop to 2-6 (0-2 NWC). Pacific Lutheran improves to 10-4 (2-0 NWC)
What Comes Next
The Bruins will be back in action tomorrow, weather permitting, as they complete the series against the Lutes, First pitch for Sunday's doubleheader is scheduled for 11:00 am.
