by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

NEWBERG, Ore. – George Fox University opened the 2021 Northwest Conference tournament with an 8-2 win over the Whitworth University softball team on Thursday.  

George Fox (28-9) the tournament host, earns its fifth win of the season over the Pirates. Whitworth (13-22) will take on the loser of the contest between Linfield and Lewis & Clark in an elimination game on Friday at 11 a.m.

The Pirates avoided the eight-run rule, despite trailing 8-0 through three innings. Sara Gayer finished 2-4 at the plate and recorded both of the Pirates' RBIs, while Kaylie Lowery went 3-4 and Heather Menzer hit 2-3.

George Fox took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first when Katie Ladd reached on a throwing error to score Kamryn Potter. The Bruins did not record a hit in the inning as two batters were walked, and another was hit by pitch.  

The Bruins added four runs in the second, beginning with a two-out RBI single from Potter. Savannah Vargas followed with a base hit in the next at-bat and Claire Fountain walked to load the bases. Ladd was hit by a pitch and Caitlyn Rhoades hit a two-run single to put GFU up 5-0 and force a Pirate pitching change. Kylie Harris relieved Drea Schwaier-Wolf and ended the big inning by forcing a fly out.

GFU scored three more in the third inning to bring the score to 8-0. Kimberly Pulido led off the inning by reaching base on the Pirates' third fielding error of the day to put a runner on second. Vargas drove in Pulido with a single up the middle before Ladd and Rhoades picked up another two runs with RBI singles of their own.

Gayer recorded Whitworth's first hit since the opening inning with a solo homer in the top of the fourth to get the Pirates on the scoreboard. In the bottom half, Harris had a four-pitch inning to hold the Bruins to their first scoreless inning.

The Bruins had runners on the corners with no outs in the bottom of the fifth with a chance to end the game early, but Harris worked out of the inning with three straight strikeouts.

Gayer drove in a run with a single in the top of the seventh but that is as close as the Pirates would get.

Ashley Davis (17-4) pitched a complete game for George Fox, allowing two runs on nine hits with nine strikeouts. Ladd and Rhoades finished with three RBIs apiece for the Bruins.

Schwaier-Wolf (6-9) took the pitching loss for Whitworth, allowing five runs (four earned) on four hits in 1.2 innings. Harris allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits in 4.1 innings of relief.