McMINNVILLE, Ore. – A tale of two games played out Saturday for the Linfield Wildcats at Roy Helser Field on an afternoon featuring a rare mix of hot and cold hitting.
 
An eight-run fifth inning propelled Linfield to a 12-8 Northwest Conference win over Puget Sound in the opener. But the Loggers answered back with a dominant pitching performance by starter Makoa Mau for a 7-2 victory in the nightcap.
 
Drawing a split, Linfield moves to 11-8 overall, 6-5 in the NWC. Puget Sound pushed its record to 9-5 overall and 3-3 in conference play.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 12, Puget Sound 8
Trailing 4-1 after the first three innings, the Wildcats found themselves in an early hole.
 
The Loggers didn't lead for long. Linfield batted around the order in the third inning, scoring eight runs to jump back on top. The surge was highlighted by a bases-loaded, two-run single from Cameron Fox that brought in Joey Cassano and Ryan Ross. Jake Gellos broke the inning wide open with a single through the left side that brought in Fox and Jake Dennis from second base. The 'Cats chased Puget Sound starter and conference ERA leader Michael Warnick after just 2.1 innings. Cassano scored for the second time in the inning when Ross blasted a double to left-center to cap the scoring.
 
Puget Sound chipped away at the Linfield lead with three runs in the fifth to close the gap to four, 11-7. The Loggers put another run on the board in the seventh after a solo homer by Jack Gries to pull Puget Sound within three.
 
Dennis sent a line drive over the fence in left center to give the 'Cats an insurance run heading to the ninth. The solo homer was the first of Dennis' career.
 
UPS threatened with two runners on in the ninth but left them stranded as Matt Strang struck out Mason Quinlan to earn the six out save.
 
Linfield in the box
The Wildcats outhit the Loggers 18-11. Every Linfield starter recorded at least one hit. Gellos led all Wildcat hitters with three RBI on 2 for 3 hitting. He also reached safely on a walk. Dennis went 3 for 3 with two RBI including the homer and two runs scored. Alec Cook went 3 for 4 with an RBI and sharp defense in his first start at third base. Ross went 3 for 4 with an RBI double. Hendra-Brown continued his hot hitting with a 2-for-4 outing and scored two runs. Six Wildcats had multiple hits in the game.
 
Wildcat arms
Wildcats starter Carter Buuck tossed the first 4.1 innings, allowing seven runs (six earned) on seven hits. He struck out two and walked seven. Kameron Walker (1-0) entered in the middle of the fifth, throwing 2.2 innings of three-hit ball. Walker allowed one run on the way to earning his first career pitching victory. Matt Strang picked up his first save in relief.
 
Loggers at the plate
Gries led all Logger hitters with a 3 for 5 afternoon. He collected three runs and two RBI. Ricardo Brazza went 2 for 4 with a double. Kyle Strash had two hits and an RBI on a double.
 
UPS on the mound
Warnick (3-1) was saddled with his first loss of the season. The Loggers' ace allowed eight runs on eight hits and walked four in 2.1 innings. He allowed the most runs in a single outing to this point in the season. Dakota Marle tossed the final two outs of the third but gave up two runs on three hits. Drew Parker took over in the fourth. He threw two innings where he gave up five hits but just one run. Merle Rowan-Kennedy was the fourth Loggers arm used. He tossed the final three innings where he allowed two hits and one run.
 
GAME 2:  Puget Sound 4, Linfield 1
Puget Sound raced to the lead in the third when Maso Quinlan singled to left and brought home Cal Muramaru.
 
The Loggers added to their lead with two more runs in the fourth. Muramaru ripped a single to left that scored Nolan Wiler and Dylan Salcedo.
 
In the next frame, Puget Sound extended its lead to four runs after Nick Ultsch launched a solo homer to right field off the pitch of reliever Dylan Peters.
 
The 'Cats got on the board in the fifth when Ayden Allen scored from third on a wild pitch. Mau, a lefty, was dominant, giving up just four hits in a near-complete game shutout.
 
Puget Sound tacked on three more runs in the ninth to extend its lead to sixth.
 
Linfield pushed one run across in the bottom of the final to complete the scoring.
 
Wildcat leaders
After racking up 18 hits in Game 1, the 'Cats bats went cold in the second meeting. Jake Dennis went 2 for 4. He was the only Wildcat with multiple hits.
 
Linfield on the mound
Starter Cal Neely (1-3) struggled in his sixth start, allowing three runs over three innings. He walked six and gave up a pair of hits. Peters threw five strong innings, conceding one run on three hits and striking out two. Gellos tossed the ninth, giving up the final three Puget Sound runs.
 
Puget Sound hitters
The Loggers outhit the 'Cats 8-5. Quinlan and Ultsch both had two hits while Muramaru led all Loggers, going 3 for 5. Corey Roberts was the only other Logger with a hit. He went 1 for 2.
 
Loggers pitching staff
Mau (2-1) spun all nine innings for the Loggers. The left-hander gave up one run on four hits with 10 strikeouts and walked two batters. The complete game for Mau was the first of his career.
 
Next
Linfield and Puget Sound square off in the rubber match Sunday at noon at Roy Helser Field.