NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox softball team flipped the script from their previous games, jumping out to a 7-0 lead in the first inning, en route to a 9-3 win over Bushnell.

How It Happened
Fox was sure to leave their mark at the end of the first, looking like an early-2010s One Direction album — only hit singles. Tinley Taylor, Sharon Tomei, and Nicole Campa started the game with singles, loading the bases before an out was registered. Kiley Harris was hit by a pitch, scoring the first run of the game, before the Bruins returned to their stretch of singles, with Bethany Wilkes, Sydney Sandifer, Brooke Riggins, and Taylor again all totaling a single. When all was said and done, the Bruins had seven singles and seven runs at the end of the first inning.

With the big lead early, Nicole Ledendecker was given just one additional in the circle, recording two strikeouts in the second to end her day. Neither team scored a run in the next two innings before two Bruin errors gave the Beacons three runs in the top of the fourth — though a diving catch from Makayla Noone helped prevent more runs. Fox countered with a Tomei double and Campa walk, with Campa eventually reaching home on a wild pitch.

The Bruins struck again in the bottom of the sixth, with Tomei recording her third hit of the day to start the inning. One batter later, Harris drove in pinch runner Charlotte Brook to score the home team's ninth and final run, catapulting Fox to a 9-3 lead.

Jordyn Relethford checked in to close out the game for the Bruins, and sent the Beacons packing quickly; the junior went 1-2-3, with a foul fly ball caught by Harris to end the game and give Fox their third straight win.

Top Performers
Sharon Tomei was one of three Bruins to end with a multi-hit game, ending with three hits (one of which was a double). Tinley Taylor and Kiley Harris were the other Fox athletes to record multiple hits, ending the game with two apiece. Taylor, Harris, and Sydney Sandifer led the team with two RBI.

In the circle, Nicole Ledendecker struck out three of the seven batters she faced, with Bailey Farrimond being given the win as Ledendecker failed to meet the minimum. The five Bruin pitchers — Ledendecker, Farrimond, Allison Heater, Ava Jeretzky, and Jordyn Relethford — finished the game with no earned runs.

Coach's Thoughts
"Our pitching was excellent today, and we did a good job of coming out and putting together quality at-bats early in the game," Bruin head coach Nathan Ohta said, "It's always nice to play from in front, and we did a good job of being ready to go from pitch one."

What It Means
The Bruins improve to 8-8, while Bushnell falls to 6-18.

What Comes Next
Fox will return to Northwest Conference play with a weekend series in Tacoma, Wash. against Puget Sound. The first of four games is scheduled to begin at noon on Saturday, March 29.