GEORGETOWN, Texas – In their first road games of the 2024 season, the George Fox softball team beat the Southwestern University Pirates twice, the first game by a score of 5-1, and the second by a score of 9-3. 

How It Happened - Game One
The Bruins scored all five of their runs in the first inning, with four of those runs coming on one swing from freshman Tinely Taylor. George Fox got things started with a Makalya Noone single in the first at-bat of the game, followed by a Kamryn Potter hit by pitch and a Sydney Sandifer walk to load the bases. With no outs and runners everywhere, Sharon Tomei put the ball in play, getting to first on a fielder's choice that scored Noone while everyone else advanced safely. The next two Bruin batters couldn't move the runners, leaving the bases loaded with two outs for Tinley Taylor — who hit her first career grand slam to score four runs. At the end of the top half of the first GFU was up, 5-0. 

Starting pitcher Emma Eastman retired the Pirates 1-2-3 in the bottom of the first, which was the theme of the rest of the game. Eastman allowed just one run over seven innings on just six hits while picking up five strikeouts compared to one walk. The Bruins wouldn't score another run in the game, but Eastman's dominant display was more than enough to pick up the win. The Bruins would leave the first game with a 5-1 win.

How It Happened - Game Two
The Bruins spread the wealth in runs scored in the second game – and score runs they did, putting up a nine-run performance in game two. Noone started things off with a single before stealing second and advancing to third on a fielding error by the Pirates. Sharon Tomei drove her in three batters later with a single, giving Fox a one-run lead, 1-0. Game two starter Elise Wilkinson struck out two in the bottom half of the first, holding Southwestern off of the scoreboard in the first. 

Two walks and an error loaded the bases in the top half of the second inning with just one out. Kamryn Potter put the ball in play, driving in another run with a fielder's choice. Sandifer and Tomei hit back-to-back singles with two outs to bring home two more runs, putting the Bruins up, 4-0. Wilkinson followed that act by getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the second to make it through the first two innings clean. Though Fox was held off the board in the top of the third, which the Pirates responded to by scoring their first run of the game on a fielder's choice. 

Up 4-1 in the top of the fourth, the Bruin bat's got going in a big way, notching their second five-run inning of the day. The inning started with Sandifer reaching via error, followed by Tomei getting hit by a pitch to put two runners on base. Aliya Harmon drew a walk to load the bases. Tinley Taylor found herself up with the bases loaded again, this time coming through with a one-out single that scored two runs. Another walk loaded the bases again, this time for Noone, who smacked a double that cleared the bases, putting the Bruins up, 9-0. 

The Pirates were able to get one run across in the fifth, and two more in the bottom of the seventh, but were otherwise held in check by Wilkinson as the Bruins closed out their second win of the day, 9-3. 

Top Performances
With two swings Tinley Taylor picked up six RBIs, with her Grand Slam in the first game and her two RBI singles in the second. Makayla Noone had three hits with three RBIs on the day, while also grabbing a stolen base in the second game. Emma Eastman gave up just one run in seven innings while striking out five. 

Coach's Thoughts
"Our pitchers were able to compete and give us a good chance today," said Bruin head coach Jessica Hollen, "We had a few plus defensive plays, including in the OF, and some timely hitting.  We still have a lot of growing to do, but a good start to the year."

What It Means
The Bruins improve to 4-0 on the young season, and the Pirates drop to 2-12 for their season. 

What Comes Next
GFU plays two more games tomorrow, playing Trinity (Texas) and a third game against Southwestern. The first pitch of their game against Trinity is at 10 am, while first pitch in the third game of their Southwestern series is at noon.