BOX SCORE

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Lewis & Clark softball team defeated the George Fox Bruins on Thursday afternoon in a Northwest Conference make-up game. The Pioneers and Bruins started play on March 10 but were forced to call the game in the bottom of the first inning due to rain.

The game started in the bottom of the first inning with Pioneer lead-off batter Kelsey Buck at second base and Taylor Gatti up to bat with a 2-0 count. Gatti would reach base in the inning on a Bruin error, advancing Buck to third, but that would be as close as the Pios would get to scoring in the opening inning.

After a quiet second inning by the Pioneers, the offense began putting things together in the third inning, with Jet'aime Mullins leading off the inning with a single to center field. Mullins then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Buck, before moving down to third on a double by Gatti.

With two runners in scoring position, freshman Maddie Lee grounded the ball back to the Bruin pitcher. The pitcher checked the runners before making her throw to first, but the look back to third did not keep Mullins there. After being looked back to third, the junior took off for home, sliding in safely head first.

The game moved quickly after the third inning with both teams playing solid defense. The Bruins put together a strong seventh inning, that saw the bases loaded with one out. Despite being in an uncomfortable position, the Pioneers managed to pull out of the inning without the Bruins plating a run. The final two outs came on a heads-up play by Caitlin Basilio throwing out the Bruins lead-off runner at home on a fielder's choice by Kris Trindle. Natalie Rose ended the contest with a strikeout.

Lewis & Clark returns to action on Saturday, April 14 at 12 p.m. against Pacific in Forest Grove.