SALEM, Ore. – For the sixth time in the season, the George Fox baseball team found themselves in extra innings. And for the fourth time in those sixth games, the Bruins emerged victorious, taking down No. 21 Willamette, 3-2, in 11 innings.
How it Happened
Normally Fox's closer,
Ryder Edwards got the start for the Bruins, beginning the game with four scoreless innings, striking out four and stranding six runners over the first four innings. In that time, the Bruins got on the board with an RBI single from
Jeremy Sangalang to score
Jared Miller and give Fox a 4-1 lead.
The Bearcats scored one run in the fifth to tie the game and looked to score more after three singles and just one out.
Andrew Sutherland entered the game for Edwards, leaving runners on third and second after a groundout and strikeout.
Willamette scored one run in the seventh to take the lead on a rare sacrifice fly to second base;
Jared Miller was able to track down an awkward pop-up, but his throw to catcher
Carson Coulter was a fraction of a second slow, with the Bearcats awarded the run and the lead.
After
Jonathan Stone struck out three batters in the eighth, the Bruins had one last chance to tie the game in the ninth.
Evan Balingit walked, but the next two batters struck out and left the game in the hands of
Bleu Ellis. Ellis hit a grounder to shortstop, but Balingit beat out the throw to third to keep their hopes alive — and after
Jared Miller reached on an error to score Balingit, Fox's hopes had turned into an opportunity.
Thanks to solid pitching from
Michael Singleton, that opportunity came in the top of the 11th inning, with the game still knotted at 2-2. Once again it was Balingit who reached base and advanced, this time courtesy of a single from
Austin Nissen that moved him to third.
Ty Davis was sure to score the sophomore, with a sacrifice fly that scored Balingit and gave Fox the lead. And though Willamette managed to get one on base, Singleton forced three straight groundouts to give Fox the series win over the No. 21 team in the ABCA poll.
Top Performances
Evan Balingit had one hit and scored both the game-tying and game-winning run for the Bruins, while
Mason Eastman had a team-high two hits on the day.
Jeremy Sangalang and
Ty Davis both totaled an RBI. On the mound,
Michael Singleton picked up the win for Fox, throwing three scoreless innings with just one hit.
What It Means
The Bruins moved to 20-16 on the season and 10-11 in Northwest Conference play, good for fifth in the conference. The Bearcats entered the day as the number one team in the NWC, but slipped to second after the loss; Willamette is 22-10 (13-8 NWC) on the season.
What Comes Next
Fox will have the week off of NWC play as they host Cal Lutheran on Friday, April 26 for Senior Day. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
