PORTLAND, Ore. -- The George Fox baseball team struggled to find a consistent rhythm in their Saturday doubleheader against Lewis and Clark, dropping both games, 4-5 and 5-8, to fall out of contention for the conference tournament. 

Game One 
Fox started as quickly as they have all season, with a leadoff home run from senior Jared Gee giving the Bruin an early 1-0 lead in the first game. The lead was short-lived, though, as the high-scoring Pios struck back in the bottom of the second, driving in three runs to move ahead, 3-1. 

Pitcher Ethan Whitney settled in after the early scores, as the game went three-up, three-down in both the third and fourth innings. However, the Pioneers scored two runs in the fifth inning off a home run to jump out to a four-run lead.

The Bruins bats came alive again in the seventh inning, as a leadoff home run from Carson Coulter was followed by another home run from senior Spencer Roos, moving Fox within two.

Relief pitcher Caleb Debban and closer Alex Abbott held the Pioneers to no hits in the next two innings, and the Bruins went into the ninth inning trailing, 3-5. Coulter and Roos once again led a late offensive charge with singles that led to an RBI, but Fox was unable to drive in the tying run despite having runners on both corners, losing the game, 4-5. 

Game Two
The Pioneers capitalized on a slow start from the Bruins in game two, driving in six runs off eight hits to put the Bruins in a 0-6 hole at the bottom of the second inning. 

Andrew Sutherland was brought in during the second inning, and pitched well from the bullpen — holding Lewis and Clark to just three hits and no runs in the next two innings. The Bruins also began to battle back with their bats, as an RBI single from Shane White in the fourth inning scored Jeremy Sangalang and Mason Eastman. The Pioneers countered with two runs of their own during the first half of the fifth, bringing the game to 2-8. 

Fox struck again in the top of the sixth, as a Bleu Ellis RBI double drove in Brandon King and a sacrifice fly from Shane McClendon scored Derek Williams. An error by the Pioneers saw Ellis score, and the Bruins had pulled within three by the end of the inning, 5-8.

Fox rotated through several pitchers and position players in the final three innings but were unable to capitalize on any hits, losing the game, 8-5.

Top Performers
Gee led the team with four hits, a home run and one RBI on the day, while Roos and Coulter both had two hits and one home run apiece in the first game. Eastman was the top performer in the second game, with three hits and an RBI.  

Coach's Thoughts
Soon to come.

What It Means
The Bruins end the day at 15-19 (9-13 NWC), while the Pioneers now sit at 24-11 (13-9 NWC). With the loss, the Bruins are now eliminated from playoff contention.

What Happens Next
Fox will take on the Pioneers once more on Sunday, and look to close out their 2023 season with a win. The first pitch of the game is scheduled for noon.