McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Led by pitching ace
Cason Cunningham's 11 strikeouts and a four-run seventh inning, the Linfield Wildcats rallied to tie their Northwest Conference baseball series with the George Fox Bruins. The Wildcats' 6-2 win on Sunday at Roy Helser Field squared the three-game set at one game apiece.
A 17-minute rain delay in the seventh inning, combined with several rescheduled start times due to rain seemed to plague Sunday's Game 2 before the game at last concluded at 8:30 p.m. under the lights. The deciding game was shifted to Monday with a 5 p.m. start time, also at Roy Helser Field.
How it played out
Linfield's
Joey Cassano lined a single up the middle with one out in the seventh to score
Jake Dennis and
Colton Robinson. The two-run swing gave Linfield a 4-1 advantage the Bruins could not overcome.
Cason Cunningham recorded the first seven outs of the game by way of strikeouts. The Bruins were the first to get on the scoreboard in the third inning with two outs. Sam Swenson hit a line drive into left field to score Jerred Seamons from second base. Swenson's RBI single was the first hit of the game for George Fox.
The Bruins threatened in the fifth when A.J. Valencia reached third on an error by Cunningham. Jantzen Tamanaha flew out to right and
Ryan Ross doubled up the Bruins by throwing out Valencia at home to keep it a one-run game.
Linfield took the lead in the fifth after an RBI single from
Brady Rediger scored
Jake Dennis from second. Ross scored
Colton Robinson from third on a fielder's choice back to the pitcher putting the score at 2-1.
Wildcats reliever
Liam Herlihy wiggled his way out of the sixth and seventh when the Bruins threatened with runners on base. He kept George Fox off the board in his 1.2 innings of work.
The game was put on pause at the start of the seventh inning when a wintery mix of rain and snow mix delayed the final 2.5 innings. Play resumed after a 17-minute delay.
After the delay, Cassano cleared the bases with his two-run double. He later scored on a wild pitch by Isaac Olson to make it 5-1 in favor of the 'Cats.
Cameron Fox laced a double down the third-base line and brought in Ross from second to add to the inning.
Matt Voelzke hit a solo home run in the ninth that sparked a Bruins rally. Herlihy loaded the bases with three walks to bring the tying run to the plate but then struck out Kyler Brudwick to clinch the 6-2 win.
Linfield hitters
The Wildcat offense produced nine hits. Cassano, Dennis and Robinson each had two hits at the plate. Dennis and Robinson both scored twice and reached on a walk apiece. Ross and Rediger both knocked in an RBI.
Wildcats pitchers
Cunningham (3-1) started and struck out 11 over 5.1 innings where he allowed one run on one hit and walked seven.
Liam Herlihy entered in the middle of the sixth. He went on to throw 3.2 innings, striking out four and allowing one run. He was credited with the first save of his Linfield career.
Bruins at the plate
George Fox connected on just four hits. Swenson drove in the Bruins' first run in the third. The NWC's RBI leader went 1 for 3 with the one RBI. Voelzke's late-inning homer was the only other run in the game for George Fox. The solo shot was Voelzke's first of the year.
George Fox on the mound
A.J. Atherton (1-1) got the starting nod for the Bruins. The left-hander threw six innings, surrendering two runs on five hits. He walked three and struck out six. Zach Stouder took over after the delay. He threw six pitches and left without recording an out. Issac Olson entered after Stouder in seventh. Olson threw the seventh and gave up three runs on three hits. Connor Olmstead started in the eighth. He gave up just one hit and walked one.
Chasing Haddeland
With 11 strikeouts on Sunday, Cunningham raised his career strikeouts total to 203m, good for 10th all-time on the Linfield career ladder. Chris Haddeland (2012-15) leads all Wildcat pitchers with 275 career strikeouts.
