WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Cameron Fox hit a grand slam and Linfield scored 12 unanswered runs to overcome a 3-0 deficit and open its final Northwest Conference series of 2017 with a 12-3 victory over host Whitman Friday afternoon at Borleske Stadium.
 
Fox added a double to his 2-for-4, four-RBI stat line and Jared Evans also drove in a total of four runs off a three-run homer and RBI single as the Wildcats improved to 22-10 overall and 17-5 in league play, maintaining their hold on first place in the team standings. The Blues (17-18, 11-11 NWC) remained in a precarious position, with just a half-game lead over Whitworth and George Fox for the fourth and final slot in the conference tournament.
 
Cal Neely surrendered three runs in the third but otherwise held the home team in check, as did Matt Strang. Neely picked up the win to run his pitching record to 6-0 while Strang yielded just three baserunners over the final three frames.
 
The Blues jumped out to a 3-0 advantage, scoring all their runs in the third inning. Nick Johnson plated two teammates on a triple to center field, and a follow-up double from Jake Wishart gave Whitman a three-run lead.
 
Starter Travis Craven limited the 'Cats to just three hits and a pair of walks over the first five innings, but Linfield finally got to him in the sixth. Ben Andrews drew a leadoff walk, Ryan Pladson and Ryan Ross came through with back-to-back singles and Evans plated the visitors' first run of the game with a base hit to right. Facing a bases-loaded situation, Fox drilled a ball out of play, spotting Linfield a 5-3 advantage it would never relinquish.
 
Pladson and Ross again got on base in the seventh, and Evans took advantage with his second home run of the year to push the spread to 8-3. In the eighth, Pladson and Ross each pushed a run across on consecutive hits, and Brady Rediger and Andrews supplied RBI singles in the ninth.
 
In all, Linfield outhit Whitman 17-10. Defensively, the 'Cats turned three double plays as well as a rare triple play in the second.
 
NEXT: The Wildcats look to secure the series in a doubleheader Saturday, beginning at noon.