2/15/2008 - GEORGE FOX 9, PATTEN 9: Bruins Open Season in Tourney Tie with Lady Lions
LIVERMORE, Calif. - After taking an early 9-1 lead, the George Fox University Bruins could not hold onto it in their 2008 softball season opener and wound up with a 9-9 tie against the Patten University Lady Lions in a game called by a 1:45 time limit after five innings in the Priscilla Benham Tournament Friday morning here at Riverside Park.
The Bruins spotted the Lions a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning when Danielle Gomez doubled in Tanya Ritter, who had singled, then exploded for eight runs in the 3rd. Shelby Briske singled in Serena Lee with the tying run, and Ashley Peterson put the Bruins ahead with a two-run single to score Kerstyn Tsuruda and Briske. Haley Harnish-Stadden singled in Peterson, and Amber Philliber lined a two-run triple to keep the inning going. A bases-loaded walk to Briske and an RBI single by Ashley Olson closed out the frame.
The Bruins added another run in the 4th when Peterson scored an unearned run on a wild pitch, but the Lions started to rally with two in their half of the 4th, Ritter and Gomez each singling in runs. The Lions tied it with six runs in the 5th before the game was called, four of them unearned due to a George Fox error that kept the inning going. Nicole Scott's two-run triple capped the rally.
Peterson went 3-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs to lead the Bruins at the plate, while Nichole Lancaster, Ritter and Gomez had two hits apiece for the Lady Lions.
Both starting pitchers went all the way. Natalie White, in her first college game for George Fox, struck out three with only one walk and allowed only four earned runs. Patten's Scott fanned eight but walked six in addition to allowing nine hits to the Bruins.
The Bruins (0-0-1) play two games in the tournament Saturday in Livermore, meeting Bethany University at 10:00 a.m. and Northwest Christian College at 2:00 p.m. The Lady Lions (1-3-1) play Bethany at 12:00 noon.