TACOMA, Washington – Hope Fleischman hit a grand slam, and Hailee Ueyama collected three hits as the Puget Sound softball team toppled George Fox, 13-4 (4-1/2 inn.) in the first day of the Northwest Conference season.
 
Puget Sound (1-9, 1-1 NWC) jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Ueyama led off with a double, and she came in to score on a single by Hana DeGuzman. The Loggers loaded the bases when Savanna Smith reached based on an error, and Abbi Wong drew a walk.
 
Another George Fox error put the Loggers ahead, 2-0. Lauren Rice then drew a bases-loaded walk, and Fleischman hit an RBI single that scored Wong.
 
Smith hit an RBI single in the second inning, Uyeama belted a solo home run in the third.
 
Puget Sound erupted for seven runs in the fourth stanza. Mikayla Newman led off with a single and Smith promptly followed with a double. Jessica Moore was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and the runners moved up one base when Rice hit an RBI single.
 
Two batters later, Fleischman ripped a grand slam over the right-field fence. The Loggers weren't done there. Newman – who led off the inning – finished the rally with a two-run double that scored Ueyama and DeGuzman.
 
Maddy Garcia earned the win in the circle by pitching all five innings.
 
The Loggers lost the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, 12-1 (5 inn.).
 
The Loggers and Bruins are scheduled for another doubleheader Sunday, Feb. 27, starting at 11 a.m.