TACOMA, Wash. – One run was all Wildcats starting pitcher Carter Buuck needed as he delivered his second complete game shutout of 2018 and led the Linfield Wildcats to a 1-0 Northwest Conference victory over the Pacific Lutheran Lutes Sunday afternoon at PLU Field. 
 
With the 2-1 series win, Linfield is 10-7 overall on the season, 5-4 in the NWC. PLU dropped to 5-8 overall and 3-2 in the NWC. The weekend results mark the second NWC series won by the 'Cats this season.
 
How it played out
Scoreless through the first three innings, Alex Hendra-Brown ripped a double into center field to score Levi Horner-Villa from first base in the fourth inning. The double by Hendra-Brown was the 'Cats first hit of the day, generating Linfield's only run of the game.
 
Buuck was dominant in his fifth outing of the season. The senior spun his second complete-game shutout of the season and fourth consecutive game throwing six innings or more. The Lutes couldn't push a runner past second base against Buuck, who walked just a single batter all afternoon.
 
In the ninth, the Lutes moved Anthony Gosline to second base but Buuck got pinch hitter Alex Cummings to fly out to center feld for the final out.
 
Linfield at the plate
Hendra-Brown went 1 for 3 with the game-winning RBI, notching his his fourth double of the series. Jacob Dennis had another productive day at the plate, going 2 for 3 while raising his team-leading batting average to .418 (third-best in NWC).

Wildcats ace
Buuck (3-1), a left-hander, tossed nine innings to pocket the win. He allowed no runs on six hits and struck out eight Lutes against just one walk.
 
Lutes in the box
PLU scattered seven hits. Connor Cantu went 2 for 4 and Anthony Gosline went 3 for 3 with a walk. Cantu and Gosline were the only Lutes batters with multiple hits.
 
PLU on the mound
Cole Johnson (0-3) was saddled with the loss. The lefty transfer from Washington State produced 7.1 innings, allowing one run on four hits. He walked five and struck out six. Alex Gregory fired the final 1.2 innings of no-hit ball.
 
Next
Linfield returns home next weekend for a three-game NWC series with the Puget Sound Loggers. First pitch is scheduled for noon both days with a doubleheader slated for Saturday from Roy Helser Field in McMinnville.