by Jared Beilby, Student Intern
PORTLAND, Ore. – Senior Derek Dixon went 5-5 in the opener and hit a home run in both games as the George Fox University Bruins swept their Northwest Conference season-opening baseball doubleheader from the Lewis & Clark Pioneers by scores of 8-0 and 6-1 Saturday afternoon here at the Huston Sports Complex.
The Bruins (12-1, 2-0 NWC) won their ninth and tenth straight games with the pair of victories over the Pioneers (3-5, 0-2 NWC). This is the best start for the Bruins since the 2007 club opened 19-1 after winning 14 straight to open the season.
Game 1 – George Fox 8, at Lewis & Clark 0
In the opener, George Fox used a three-run third inning to start the scoring as senior Josh Rapacz hit a two-run single and Dixon added an RBI single. In the next inning, senior Danny Clifford hit a double and then sophomore Kadyn Nannini and junior Matthew Zeller both hit RBI singles to put the Bruins up 5-0. In the seventh, Dixon connected for a 3-run right-field blast that gave the Bruins an 8-0 lead.
Dixon just missed hitting for the cycle with three singles, a double and a home run in five at-bats. Rapacz, Nannini and sophomore Clay Mott added two hits each. Senior Clay Gartner (4-0) went the distance on the mound for the win, allowing six hits while striking out five. He did not walk a batter through the first eight innings. As a team, the Bruins out-hit the Pioneers 13-6.
Junior Ryan Strombom (0-2) was the losing pitcher for the Pioneers, giving up 12 hits and eight runs in seven innings work.
Game 2 – George Fox 6, at Lewis & Clark 1
For the second half of the twinbill, Dixon had help in the long-ball department as both Rapacz and Clifford hammered deep shots to give George Fox a total of four home runs in the two games.
After the Bruins scored a pair of runs in the second inning, Rapacz and Dixon opened the third by hitting back-to-back solo homers to make the score 4-0. Lewis & Clark managed to sneak a run in the bottom of the inning, ending a 13-inning scoreless streak that dated back to last year against George Fox. Clifford opened the fifth with a right-field four-bagger and Rapacz added an RBI single in the eighth for the 6-1 final.
Rapacz, Dixon, Clifford and Taylor Johnson all had two hits for the Bruins, who out-hit the Pioneers 11-7. For the season, Dixon has a .906 slugging percentage in 13 games, while Rapacz is currently hitting .519 after 13 games.
Junior Ian Buckles (3-0) tossed a complete game for the win while striking out eight and did not walk a batter. Sophomore Aaron Landecker (1-2) pitched five innings on the rubber for the Pios and took the loss, allowing nine hits and five earned runs.
It was a clean fielding afternoon as both sides played errorless in the doubleheader's entire 18 innings. George Fox has gone now 34 innings without an error.
NEXT: Lewis & Clark hosts George Fox in the third game of the three-game series at 12 p.m. Sunday in Portland.