NEWBERG, Ore. -- Despite leading in all three games of the series, the George Fox baseball team was swept against Lewis & Clark with a loss, 2-8.

How It Happened 
As had been the case in the previous two games, the game started slow before the Bruins jumped out to an early lead. Aidan Rady retired nine of the first 10 batters he faced, before Evan Balingit scored Adam Fulton with an RBI single to center field to give Fox an early 1-0 advantage through three.

The lead was short-lived, however, with the Pios taking advantage of a dropped fly ball from the Bruins and scored in the top of fourth inning to knot the score, 1-1. After a silent inning from the home team, Lewis & Clark took control of the game with a three-hit, four-run inning that put the Pioneers up 5-1. The Fox offense fell silent through the middle stretch of the game, with their deficit growing to 1-6.

Austin Stalwick kept the Bruins hopes alive by getting out of a tough bases loaded, nobody out situation in the eighth without surrendering a run, before George Fox had their best chance at a comeback. Balingit doubled down the line and advanced to third before being scored by a Garrett Strube RBI single. After a Mason Eastman single of his own, the Bruins were down just four with two on and just one out. Unfortunately, a pop out and fly out ended the inning and prevented any further comeback.

Two more runs from the Pios were the nail in the coffin for the Bruins, who dropped their eighth straight home game with a 2-8 loss.

Top Performers 
Evan Balingit totaled two hits, one run, and one RBI, while Garrett Strube notched a three-hit performance. 

What It Means 
The Bruin baseball team falls to a 11-17 (5-12 NWC) record overall with the loss. The Pios improve to 15-13 (8-7 NWC) thanks to the weekend sweep.

What Comes Next 
George Fox will head to Monmouth for a quick midweek game against Western Oregon (10-22, 7-16 GNAC) before returning to face the No. 9 team in the country in Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (22-8, 12-6 SCIAC). The first game of the series is scheduled for Friday, April 18 at 3:00pm.