This weekend fans filled the Puget Sound softball stadium to support the Loggers in their series against the George Fox Bruins. The Loggers fought hard until the very end, but it was not enough to win the series. On Saturday they lost their double header 10-4 and 7-0, and on Sunday 7-3 and 11-2.
By the top of the fifth inning in their first Saturday game, the Loggers were already losing 6-0. When the bottom of the fifth rolled around, the Loggers finally came to life and started making big strides in the game. Senior Megan Janes (Littleton, Colo.) brought in two runs with her grounder to short stop. Sophomore Jenica Holt (Pleasanton, Calif.) also brought in two more runs with her double to left field. The four runs scored by the Loggers were not enough for a comeback in the game, and they lost 10-4.
Once the second game in the series started, the Loggers offense struggled to put runs on the board. Senior pitcher Elayna Van Hess (Aumsville, Ore.) kept the Bruins from scoring multiple runs early in the game. Even when dealing with loaded bases, Van Hess held the Bruins to just one run over the first five innings and threw five strikeouts.
Throughout the game the Loggers had multiple chances to score, but ended up leaving players on bases during the majority of the innings. It was the sixth inning when the Bruins took away the game with six runs, and the Loggers were never able to gain momentum for a comeback.
The games on Sunday were similar to Saturday’s, and the Loggers’ effort was not enough. In the first game on Sunday, the Loggers came out strong and took quick control of the game. Senior Chrissy Atterson (Marysville, Wash.) had a two run homer in the first inning. At some point the Loggers lost their energy however, and the Bruins came in with a strong rally. Senior Joleen Monfiletto (Everett, Wash.) was able to keep the Bruins at bay in the final two innings with her pitching, but the Loggers remained scoreless for the rest of the game and loss 7-3.
In the final game of the weekend series on Sunday, the Bruins had two runs in the first inning. The Loggers were able to tie up the game in the second inning. Janes’ double was able to bring home junior Amy Schmeckpepper, and Holt’s single added another run for the Loggers by bringing in Monfiletto. By the third inning the Bruins were up by seven against the Loggers two runs, and the Loggers never regained control, losing the game 11-2.
Next weekend the Loggers will face defending national champion and top-ranked Linfield.
PHOTO COURTESY/DAVID PENDLETON
