NEWBERG, Ore. – George Fox swept visiting Whitworth in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader on Friday, establishing the seeding for next week's conference tournament in the process. The Bruins (28-10 overall, 20-6 NWC) won the first game 3-1 and took the second 6-1 to secure second place in the NWC standings and the #2 seed in the tournament.
The Pirates (25-13, 15-11) will be the #4 seed at the conference tournament next weekend in McMinnville, Oregon, which will be hosted by regular season champion Linfield. Whitworth and George Fox will complete the series, and the regular season, with a second doubleheader on Saturday.
Game 1 – George Fox 3, Whitworth 1
The Pirates managed one unearned run in the top of the first, but could not string together enough hits to generate more scoring in the opener.
Whitworth scored in its first at bat after Julia Dillon walked with two outs and moved to second on a passed ball. Maddy Thomas struck out swinging, but the ball got away and the throw to first to get Thomas was off the mark, allowing Dillon to score from second. The Pirates had a chance to tack on more runs after Menzer followed the error with a double. But Jazz Johnson was struck out in the next at bat.
Jennifer McCue scored from second after a single by Emma Classen to get the Bruins on the board. Kamryn Potter gave George Fox the lead in the third with a solo home run. Katie Ladd added an insurance run for the Bruins in the fifth with another solo home run.
The Pirates had a chance at more runs in the fourth after back to back singles with two outs, but could not score. The Bucs left two more runners on base in the fifth after they had runners on second and third with one out. Thomas struck out and Menzer flied out.
Corinne Vasiloff went all six innings for Whitworth in the circle and only allowed four hits, but still took the loss. Elise Wilkinson (14-7) got the win for George Fox, giving up one run on six hits in six innings. Ashley Davis pitched a perfect seventh for her second save.
Game 2 – George Fox 6, Whitworth 1
Haley Montoya's home run in the top of the first was all the offense the Pirates could muster, while Claire Fountain hit a pair of homers for the Bruins.
Montoya led off the game with a home run to left field, her fourth of the season. Whitworth would only be able to get one more hit the rest of the game.
The Bruins took the lead in the bottom of the first on Fountain's first home run, a two-run shot to right center. They extended the lead in the third when Sydney Sandifer singled home Fountain.
Leading 4-1 in the sixth, Fountain hit another two run homer to left center for the final runs of the game.
Davis (19-4) started in the circle for George Fox and pitched a two-hitter. She struck out nine and walked one.
Vasiloff (14-11) started the second game for Whitworth, allowing four runs on six hits in three innings. Annie Brose pitched one inning of relief, and Momi Lyman threw the final two frames.
