by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

NEWBERG, Ore. – George Fox University hit nine home runs to win 8-2 and 17-8 over the visiting Whitworth University softball team in Sunday's Northwest Conference doubleheader at Morse Athletic Field.

George Fox (25-7, 21-3 NWC) scored in each of the first four innings in Sunday's opener, which included three home runs from Claire Fountain. Whitworth (9-21, 7-11) was unable to overcome a nine-run third inning by the Bruins in the finale as George Fox secured the series sweep.

Game 1 – George Fox 8, Whitworth 2

Fountain, the NWC leader in RBIs, hit a home run in all three of her plate appearances to record six RBIs and lead the Bruins to their third win of the weekend over the Pirates.  

Sara Gayer and Brynn Radke had a multi-hit game for the Bucs.

The Bruins led 3-0 after the first inning thanks to a three-run homer from Fountain.

Heather Menzer hit a solo home run in the top of the second, her third of the season for the Pirates, to bring the score to 3-1. The Bruins added a run in the bottom of the second to extend their lead back to three runs.

The Pirates loaded the bases on three consecutive one-out singles in the third. A sacrifice fly from Maddy Thomas scored Kaylie Lowery to narrow the Bucs' deficit to 4-2. The Bruins quickly got that run back in the bottom half with Fountain's second home run of the game and another with an RBI single from Emma Classen.

Fountain hit her third homer in the fourth, driving in two runs to extend George Fox's advantage to 8-2.

Ashley Davis (14-3) pitched a complete game for the Bruins, allowing two runs on eight hits.

Kylie Harris (0-5) got the start for the Pirates and allowed eight runs (six earned) on seven hits in four innings. Drea Schwaier-Wolf allowed one hit in two innings of relief.

Game 2 – George Fox 17, Whitworth 8 (5 innings)

The Bruins blasted six more home runs in the series finale, four in the third inning, to earn the series sweep.  

George Fox took a 2-0 lead in the first after a two-run single by Katie Ladd.

Ashley Bartels, who finished 3-3 on the game, drove in Mattea Nelson with a single in the top of the second to bring the score to 2-1.

The Bruins led 5-1 after back-to-back home runs from Ladd and Caitlyn Rhoades in third. Kamryn Potter drew a bases-loaded walk later in the inning to extend the lead to five runs before Savannah Vargas broke open the game with a grand slam. Fountain followed Vargas with another homer to bring the Bruins' lead to 11-1.

The Pirates responded with six runs in the fourth, beginning with three straight singles to load the bases with one out. Kylie Bardwell was hit by a pitch and Radke hit a two-run double to get the scoring started. Gayer concluded the rally with a three-run homer to bring Whitworth within 11-7.

George Fox continued to hit home runs as Rhoades got her second of the game in the fourth. The Bruins scored two more runs in the inning to go up 14-7.

Whitworth trailed 14-8 after the top of the fifth. Rylee Gentner singled to reach base, advanced to third on a base hit from Bartels and scored on Lowery's groundout.

Classen ended the game via the fifth inning run-rule with a three-run homer.  

Sarah Storton (8-2) was the winning pitcher for the Bruins, allowing six runs on eight hits in 3.1 innings. Emma Eastman allowed two runs on five hits in 1.2 innings of relief.

Corinne Vasiloff (3-4) was the starting pitcher for Whitworth, taking the loss after allowing eight runs and eight hits in 2.2 innings. Melanie Laronde and Harris also pitched for the Pirates.

Coming Up: Whitworth concludes the regular season with a four-game series at Willamette on May 1-2.