PORTLAND, Ore. – The weather Saturday was nearly as unpredictable as the Linfield Wildcats' hitting during a rain-and-sun-soaked afternoon at the Huston Sports Complex.
 
The opening two games of the three-game Northwest Conference baseball series went Lewis & Clark's way as the Pioneers carved out 4-2 and 3-1 wins.
 
The losses dropped Linfield to 12-9 overall and 7-7 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark jumped to 5-16 overall and 3-7 in the NWC.
 
GAME 1: Lewis & Clark 4, Linfield 2
Lewis & Clark raced to a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Wildcats starter Cason Cunningham sat down the first two Pios before two L&C hitters reached base. With runners at first and second bases, Max Gordon hit a three-run homer over the wall in left field.
 
The 'Cats got on the scoreboard when Daniel Zavala singled to the gap in right center, scoring Alex Hendra-Brown from third.
 
Linfield rallied in the third with another run. Joey Cassano singled up the middle tl score Alec Cook from third, pulling Linfield within one run, 3-2.
 
Adding another run to their lead, the Pioneers scored one in the sixth when Ryan Ericksen singled to right-center, bringing home Sean Shepard.
 
The 'Cats threatened in the eighth but failed to capitalize with runners at first and second and no outs. Lewis & Clark forced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play to end the threat.
 
Linfield in the box
Linfield totaled 12 hits but scored only twice. Cassano went 3 for 4 with an RBI to lead all Wildcat hitters. Cameron Fox went 2 for 4 and Hendra-Brown also went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Zavala was the only other Wildcat hitter with an RBI.
 
Wildcat arms
Cunningham (5-2) made his seventh start of 2018. In 5.1 innings, he allowed four runs on six hits and struck out two. Liam Herlihy appeared in relief and tossed the final 2.2 innings. He did not allow a run, gave up two hits and struck out three.
 
Pios at the plate
Lewis & Clark had eight hits. Gordon went 2 for 3 with three RBI and scored a run. Shepherd led all Pios hitting 3 for 3 with two runs scored. Ericksen went 2 for 4 with a run scored.
 
Lewis & Clark on the mound
Nick Kennison started on the mound and despite allowing 10 hits, surrendered just two runs and did not allow a walk. He struck out four Wildcats over the first seven innings. Zach Merzlak spun the final two innings in relief, allowing no runs to earn his first save of the season.
 
GAME 2:  Lewis & Clark 3, Linfield 1
Lewis & Clark struck first with another three-run first frame. Gordon singled up the middle to score Chan Vieira to start the scoring. Justin Katona followed with a two-RBI triple to left-center that scored Gordon and Ericksen. Wildcats starter Cal Neely did not allow another run.
 
A one-hour rain delay in the fourth inning halted play, sending both teams under cover before play resumed.
 
Linfield pushed a run across when Jake Gellos hit a double down the left-field line in the ninth to score Ben Whitt from second. Gellos got to third base but could not score as the 'Cats dropped the nightcap by a two-run margin.
 
Wildcat leaders
Linfield had one run on six hits. No Wildcat had multiple hits. Gellos was the only batter with an RBI; he went 1 for 1. Ayden Allen and Zavala had a double apiece.
 
Linfield on the mound
Neely (1-4) pitched all eight innings, giving up three runs on seven hits and striking out six.
 
Pioneer hitters
Ericksen was the lone L&C hitter with multiple hits. He went 2 for 4 with a run scored. Katona went 1 for 4 with two RBI on a triple. Gordon drove in a run and scored once.
 
Lewis & Clark pitching staff
Robert Reaser (1-4) got the starting nod for the Pioneers. He tossed seven clean innings of three-hit ball. He walked six, struck out six and did not allow a run. Closer Austin Conniff threw the final two innings, allowing three hits and one run to earn the six-out save.
 
Next
The Wildcats look to salvage a game with Pioneers Sunday at noon at the Huston Sports Complex to wrap up the three-game series.