NEWBERG, Ore. -- The George Fox baseball team couldn't find much luck in their third and final game of their weekend series against the Whitworth Pirates, closing it out with a 7-3 loss.
How It Happened
The Bruins started the game off right, their defense shutting out the Pirates, with one strikeout by
Lucas Plenert, and two flyouts. It was unfortunately about the same situation when Fox was at bat, three straight outs.
The second inning was a different story, with the Pirates scoring twice, 2-0. Both runs were scored off of loaded bases with a hit and walk.
BJ Tokushima and
Brennan Bates both got on base for GFU, but didn't get any other opportunities to advance. In the third.
Evan Balingit stepped out to bat and advanced to second on an error, later getting to third on a Tokushima singled to right field and Bates followed and flew one out to right field, to score Balingit and cut into the lead, 2-1.
Whitworth tacked on another two runs in the fifth on a two-run Spencer Shipman homer, 4-1. Fox got two on base, but couldn't push past. The luck shifted in the sixth as Bates singled to start the inning. singling to shortstop.
Jayson Au Hoy stepped up and whacked a single to center field, scoring Bates and drawing closer, 4-2.
The Pirates scored back-to-back in the seventh, on a throwing error and a sacrifice fly, putting them up 6-2.
Garrett Strube had a single to get on first, then — after a wild pitch — to second. Balingit then scored Strube to keep the Bruins in the game, 6-3. Unfortunately for Fox, Fox would only have one runner in scoring position for the remainder of the game, as they dropped the contest, 6-3.
Top Performances
Evan Balingit tracked one RBI, run, and hit.
Brennan Bates recorded one RBI, two hits, and one run.
Jayson Au Hoy had one RBI and two hits, while
Garrett Strube had one run and two hits.
Joey Marasco and
BJ Tokushima each had two hits. On the mound,
Lucas Plenert struck out four.
What It Means
The Bruins conference record is now 5-6, and 7-13 overall. The Pirates are 7-1 conference, 12-11 overall.
What Happens Next
The Bruins will keep the conference games going, playing a rescheduled match against Pacific Lutheran, Wednesday, March 25, at 2:00 pm in Tacoma, Wash.
