McMINNVILLE, ORE. – A strong start and a lead through the middle innings for the Linfield Wildcats was wiped away by the Pacific Lutheran Lutes who went on to win 8-4. The third game of the series, PLU earned a three-game sweep of Linfield. The Wildcats couldn't match a quality relief appearance by Lutes pitcher Andrew Curran who threw the final six innings at a sunny Roy Helser Field. The loss drops Linfield to 4-17 overall, 2-13 in Northwest Conference play. PLU improves to 16-8 overall and 8-4 in the NWC.
RECAP
- PLU scored first with an RBI single from Marques Carlson who brought in Jordan Haworth from second.
- The 'Cats would rally in the fourth and scored twice to take the lead. Levi Horner-Villa doubled and scored Wyatt Smith. Later, Kurt Potter singled and Horner-Villa scored on the hit to make it 2-1, Linfield.
- Holding a 2-1 lead, Linfield surrendered the lead in the sixth. A single from Haworth pushed the Lutes in front after Dominick Zombik scored to make it 3-2, Lutes.
- PLU doubled its lead in the seventh when Jacob Bockelie homered for the second time in the series.
- The Lutes would score three more runs in the ninth off of Linfield's relievers.
- The 'Cats scored twice in the ninth on an Alec Cook groundout and a Lutes error. PLU went on to win 8-4 to pick up the three-game sweep.
- Cason Cunningham started on the mound for Linfield. He threw the first 5.2 innings where he allowed three runs on four hits and struck out six.
- Potter (3-4), Tanner Earhart (2-3) and Cook (2-4) each had multiple hits in the game.
NEXT
Linfield meets Puget Sound next weekend on March 30 and 31 in Tacoma for a three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for noon on Saturday.
