McMINNVILLE, Ore. – A near shutout in Game 1 and early lead in a rain-halted second game made for a productive yet interesting Saturday for Linfield on the opening day of a key Northwest Conference series against Pacific Lutheran. The Wildcats downed the Lutes 6-1 and had a 1-0 advantage before officials called for a suspension due to increasing rain at Roy Helser Field.
 
Ben Andrews supplied the offensive fireworks that sparked Linfield's lineup in the first game, helping the 'Cats (7-4, 5-2 NWC) snap PLU's five-game win streak. The Lutes (7-3, 5-2 NWC) suffered just their second NWC loss on the year.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 6, PLU 1
Andrews broke through a pitcher's duel in the sixth inning, sending a two-run bomb over the left-field fence to spot the 'Cats a 2-0 lead. 
 
Up to that point, the teams had stranded a combined 12 runners as both starting pitchers and their supporting defenses worked out of several jams.
 
Finally, in the sixth, Scott Hilpert drew a leadoff walk and Andrews cashed in with his first home run of the season. Ryan Ross tried to keep the offense churning with an outfield single, but an inning-ending double play prevented Linfield from tacking on to its lead.
 
The Wildcats twice loaded the bases and went through the entire order during a four-run eighth that gave the hosts a large cushion heading into the final frame. Brady Rediger and Hilpert started things off with back-to-back singles, and Andrews drew a walk to load the bases.
 
Ryan Pladson sent a grounder straight to PLU's third baseman, who passed on the bag tag and instead threw wildly to home, allowing both Rediger and Hilpert to score and push Linfield's advantage to 4-0. Kekoa Kaulukukui and Levi Horner-Villa plated two additional runs on a sacrifice fly and left-field single.
 
That cushion proved almost necessary, as PLU threatened to rally in the top of the ninth. An error, two walks and a fielder's choice helped the visitors load the bases, and Kory VanderStaay's sacrifice fly pushed home the Lutes' first run of the game. It proved to be the only run, however, as Cal Neely set up a force-out at second to end the game.
 
Neely pocketed the victory, his second of the season, on 4.0 innings of work. Lefty starter Cason Cunningham yielded just a single hit against seven strikeouts in five innings, but also surrendered five bases on balls.
 
Cole Johnson led Pacific Lutheran with a pair of hits. Starter Jacob Gleichman, who lasted six innings, took the loss.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 1, PLU – Suspended, Bot 2
Hilpert rocketed his fourth home run of the season over the wall in left field before driving rain forced the suspension of the game in the middle of the second frame.
 
Riley Newman worked his way out of a dangerous situation in the second, striking out two consecutive Lutes to leave two runners stranded. He tallied three strikeouts through two innings.
 
NEXT: Linfield and PLU resume action Sunday at noon. The teams hope to