3/2/2008 - PUGET SOUND 3-6, GEORGE FOX 1-4: Bruins Let Leads Slip Away to Loggers Twice
Game 1 Box Score
Game 2 Box Score
NEWBERG, Ore. - Despite leading in both games, once late and once early, the George Fox University Bruins could not hang onto their advantages as the University of Puget Sound Loggers came from behind twice to win 3-1 and 6-4 in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader Sunday afternoon here at Morse Field.
In the opener, the teams battled through 4 1/2 scoreless innings before the Bruins broke through with a run in the bottom of the 5th, but the Loggers prevented further damage by catching two Bruin runners on the basepaths. Natalie White opened the inning with a single, pinch-runner Serena Lee stole second, and Shelby Briske walked. Both runners advanced when catcher Valarie Barone tried to pick Lee off at second but threw the ball away. One out later, Camille Jeffris singled to center, scoring Lee, and Briske held up at third. Jeffris tried to advance to second, and when the Loggers tried to catch her, Briske broke for the plate and was gunned down. Jeffris then got caught trying to advance to third for a double play, ending the inning.
The Loggers made the Bruins pay in the top of the 6th. Hilary Rice and Lindsay Fujita singled to open the frame, and after a sacrifice moved the runners along, Victoria Raeburn homered to left center for the winning blow.
Auriel Sperberg (3-1) went the distance for the Loggers, allowing only the two 5th-inning hits while striking out five and walking three. White (0-5) was the tough-luck loser for the Bruins, spacing seven hits while fanning four and walking two.
In the nightcap, the Bruins took a 2-0 lead in the 2nd when Torey Weatherman led off with a double and Briske hit her first home run of the season, knocking out UPS starter Andi Doerflinger. Bijou Felder (1-0) went the final six innings, scattering six hits with a strikeout and three walks while allowing two runs, one unearned.
The Loggers got one run in the 3rd as Rice singled and Fujita doubled her home, and tied it in the 4th when Rice hit a sacrifice fly to score Nikki LaFemina with an unearned run. Puget Sound took the lead with four in the 5th against Weatherman (0-5) when Kelli Ishii doubled and scored on Carolyn Moore's single, and Stephanie Hatley, Noelle Vallecorsa, and Rice added RBI singles later in the inning.
The Bruins cut into the Logger lead with single runs in the 5th and 6th. In the 5th, Ashley Peterson singled and came around on a single by Ashley Olson and a throwing error by pitcher Felder. In the 6th, Briske singled and scored on a double by Jeffris.
Briske had two hits for the Bruins, while Meghan Watson led the Loggers' 13-hit attack with three hits. LaFemina and Rice had two hits each.
George Fox (0-10-1, NWC 0-4) hosts defending national champion Linfield College Saturday for a conference twinbill at 1:00 p.m. Puget Sound (5-3, NWC 3-1) hosts Pacific University Saturday for a pair at 12:00 noon.