TACOMA, Wash. -- For the second time this season, the George Fox baseball team swept a road doubleheader. Against the Pacific Lutheran Lutes, Fox claimed the victory in the first game, 7-3, and in the second, 5-2.

How It Happened - Game One
The Bruins started the first inning with dominance as Garrett Strube, Joey Marasco, and Evan Balingit all started with singles. With the bases quickly loaded, BJ Tokushima kept the streak going, singling to score Strube and Marasco scored, putting Fox above the Lutes, 2-0.

Then, in the bottom of first, Pacific Lutheran scored thanks to several walks and a failed pickoff attempt. Despite the run, the Lutes failed to get a hit — something that would matter soon enough; over the next six innings, Lucas Plenert was dealing. The sophomore did not allow a hit through the first seven innings of the game, allowing just three baserunners on walks. Though Fox wasn't able to get in, Plenert's superb pitching kept Fox ahead.

Finally, in the eighth inning, Marasco singled down the infield line, and though the freshman was out at second try to turn the double, Gabe DeBenedetto scored, bringing them ahead by three at 4-1. Plenert finally gave up a hit in the top of the eighth, and Bran Ho stepped in to earn the save. In the ninth inning, Marasco tripled to left center as DeBenedetto scored once again, and following right on his toes was Kaden Oshiro, hitting home base—putting Fox ahead by five.

Still in the top of ninth, Garrett Strube flew out to right field and Marasco was able to score a run yet again, bringing George Fox to an advantage at 7-1. The Lutes managed two runs in the ninth, but it stayed a solid win for the Bruins, 7-3.

How It Happened - Game Two
Fox made progress after nothing in the first—Jayson Au Hoy reached first on an error, with both Declan Corrigan and Brennan Bates scored. Later in the inning, Gabe DeBenedetto tallied an RBI single, marking the score to 4-0 after two.

The Bruins took a break on offense — while Aiden Rady's pitching was impressing on defense — until the top of fifth where Tokushima singled to left field to score Marasco. But Pacific finally got on the board with an RBI single on a hit in the bottom of fifth and a home-run in the bottom of seventh—putting the score overall at 5-2.

Andrew Miller stepped in to close for the Bruins, allowing just one hit over the final two innings as Fox picked up the Sunday doubleheader sweep.

Top Performances
Joey Marasco scored three runs for both games with five hits and three RBIs, while Gabe DeBenedetto scored two runs and five hits for the day. Garrett Strube scored a run and three hits, as Austin Stalwick also scored one run with one hit overall. 

After being on no-hitter watch through seven innings, Lucas Plenert took the win with nine strikeouts total, and Bryan Ho earned a save. Aidan Rady earned the win in game two, while Andrew Miller had the save.

What It Means
The Bruins rise to 6-9 (4-3 NWC), while Pacific Lutheran falls to 3-7 (1-4 NWC). 

What Happens Next 
The Bruins will come back to Newberg, Ore. to play against the Denison Big Red at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, March 18.