The Pioneers split Tuesday's doubleheader against the George Fox Bruins, falling 7-5 (box score) in game one and then holding on for a 7-6 (box score) victory in game two. Kim Kittell had five hits for the Pioneers. Kelly Vega earned her first career victory.

In the first game, the Bruins took a 3-0 lead in the second inning. Torey Weatherman lead off the inning with a single to right. With runners on second and third with one out and Amber Philliber at the plate, Weatherman scored on a wild pitch. Philliber then hit a two-run home run over the fence in the deepest part of center field, her first home run of the year, to put her team up 3-0.

The Pioneers got a one-out single from Sheree Miura (junior, Waipahu, Hawaii) in the third. The Bruins walked the next three batters to bring in Miura. After getting one batter to strikeout, the Bruins' pitcher Torey Weatherman gave up a single to Michaela Satter (freshman, McKinleyville, Calif.) to make it a 3-2 game.

The Bruins broke open the one-run game in the sixth. After getting three straight singles to start the inning, the Pioneer pitcher walked in a run. Amanda Philliber doubled to right center to clear the bases to take a 7-2 lead.

A leadoff double in the bottom of the sixth by Karyne Sander (senior, Grants Pass, Ore.) led to another Pioneer run, making it 7-3. In the bottom of the seventh, the Pioneers got their first three runners on with no outs. After a pop out to shallow center failed to score a run, the Pioneers did plate one on a groundout to short. With two outs, the Bruins Torey Weatherman issued back-to-back walks, the first to load the bases, the second to make it a 7-5 game.

The Bruins went to the bullpen, bringing in Natalie White. Sheree Miura smacked a White pitch toward short that looked to get through, but a dive by short stop Amanda Philliber robbed Miura of a hit and secured the 7-5 victory for the Bruins.

Amanda Philliber drove in five of the seven George Fox runs, going 2-3 at the plate with a double and a home run.

For the Pioneers, Kim Kittell (sophomore, Tillamook, Ore.) and Jessica Mullins (sophomore, Randle, Wash.) each had two hits for the Pioneers.

The Bruins' Torey Weatherman earned her first victory of the season, worked 6.2 innings, allowing five runs (four earned) on nine hits, walking nine, and striking out three. Natalie White earned her first save of the season, facing one batter in the seventh. Paige McFeeley (freshman, Boise, Idaho) took the loss for the Pioneers.

In game two, the Pioneers capitalized on three errors in the second inning to score three runs. Michaela Satter and Kelly Vega (sophomore, Beaverton, Ore.) hit RBI singles to drive in two of the three unearned runs.

The Pioneers extended the lead to 5-0 in the third inning. Jessica Mullins reached on a one-out walk. Kim Kittell followed with her second hit of the game. Karyne Sander singled to left to score Mullins and Kittell.

George Fox tied the game in the fifth inning, sending nine batters to the plate. The Bruins loaded the bases with two outs when a single by Kerstyn Tsuruda scored two runs. A grounder to third seemed like it would get the Pioneers out of the inning, but a miscue by the Pioneer fielder scored another run and extended the inning. A double to right by Ashley Olsen scored two more and tied the game.

The Pioneers took advantage of a Bruin error in the fifth. After back-to-back one out singles by Jessica Mullins and Kim Kittel, the Bruins got a strikeout and looked to be able to get out of the inning on a routine grounder to third. After the ball was misplayed, two runs scored to give the Pioneers a 7-5 lead.

Amber Philliper cut the Pioneer lead in half with her second home run of the season, a solo shot in the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, Nathalie Matson (grad, Astoria, Ore.), coming on in relief of Kelly Vega, issued a leadoff walk, but the runner was stranded on third as she set down the next three batters to earn her first save of the season.

Kelly Vega earned her first collegiate victory, working six innings, with Fox scoring six runs, just three of those earned, on seven hits. Vega did not walk a batter, striking out five in her strongest outing of the season. Natalie White took the complete game loss for the Bruins.

At the plate, DP Kim Kittell was a perfect 3-3 hitting for the Pioneers, scoring three runs for the Pioneers. She was 5-6 combined in the two games. Karyne Sander drove in two runs with her one hit, a double. Kelly Vega had the only other RBI for the Pioneers.

For the Bruins, Kerstyn Tsuruda was 2-4 with two runs driven in. Amber Philliber was 2-3, including her home run, scoring twice and driving in one run.

The Bruins are now 3-19-1 (3-13 NWC). The Pioneers are 2-21 (2-14 NWC).

The Pioneers are on the road Saturday playing at Willamette before returning to the Huston Sports Complex for their final home game of the season Sunday, April 6, when they host the Linfield Wildcats.

Photo below courtesy of Norm Maves Jr.