NEWBERG, Ore. -- After picking up an 8-0 win in the first game, the George Fox softball team rallied from a 3-0 fifth-inning deficit, using a walk-off homer from
Kamryn Potter to win game two, 4-3.
Game One
The Bruins blanked the Bearcats in game one, with pitcher
Ashley Davis holding Willamette to just three hits in the game. After a 1-2-3 inning from Davis, Fox struck first with two runs — an
Emma Classen sac fly to bring in
Kamryn Potter and an
Aliya Harmon RBI single — giving the Bruins an early lead.
Classen got her team on the board again in the third inning, launching a ball over for a Fox home run. While Davis gave up her first hits of the day in the fourth, the senior pitcher locked down and stranded two Bearcats to keep Fox up, 3-0, before
Kimberly Pulido brought home three runners with a home run of her own.
Fox ended game one in style, run-ruling Willamette with RBI singles from
Sydney Sandifer and
Brooke Riggins in the fifth inning. The Bruins scored in four of the five innings in the game, leaving just two runners on base over the course of the 8-0 win.
Game Two
The Bearcats drew first blood against the Bruins in game two, putting Fox down, 3-0, in the fourth. After three scoreless innings that saw the home team held without a hit, Willamette scored on a Faith Collar RBI triple and a Gianna March single. The runs prompted Fox coach
Jessica Hollen to turn to
Kami Gibson at the mound, who quickly retired her next batter.
The Bruins struggled to get a hit off of Willamette pitcher Kenna Davis through the opening innings, waiting until the fifth inning to record their first. That hit, a
Kimberly Pulido triple, quickly put Fox in scoring position. Pulido was immediately driven in by
Kamryn Potter to draw closer, 1-3.
The very next inning,
Claire Fountain tied the game with a thunderous home run to bring the home crowd to their feet.
Emma Eastman stepped in for Gibson as pitcher, throwing a 1-2-3 inning. With one out In the bottom of the seventh, Potter stepped up to the plate, belting a ball over the right-center wall to give Fox the walk-off 4-3 win.
Top Performers
In addition to her walk-off shot, Potter finished the day with a hit and two runs. Classen and Fountain each tallied additional homers, while Pulido had a team-high three RBI on the day. Davis struck out five while Gibson pitched 2.1 innings without allowing a run.
Coach's Thoughts
"Our pitchers battled," Bruin head coach
Jessica Hollen said, "It was nice to see a couple of seniors with big hits to get us back into game 2."
What It Means
The Bruins currently sit in third place in the conference with their 18-12 record (11-7 NWC), one game behind Whitworth. Willamette slides to sixth in the NWC at 13-19 (8-14 NWC)
What Happens Next
The Bruins will be right back at Morse against Willamette for Senior Day. Game one of the series is scheduled to begin at noon.
