SPOKANE, WASH. – After taking a 5-1 lead in the second inning, the Linfield Wildcats allowed 17-unanswered runs to the Whitworth Pirates and fell 18-5 at Merkel Field. The first of a three-game series, the Pirates improved to 21-11, 18-4 in conference play. Linfield drops to 6-27 and 3-19 in the Northwest Conference. Whitworth has now won seven games in a row.
 
RECAP

• Whitworth struck first in the bottom of the first on a single to left field from Taylor Poffenrot. Nicolas Nerud scored and the Pirates took a 1-0 lead.
• The 'Cats would rally in the second inning with five runs. The big inning for Linfield was highlighted by a double down the line in left that scored Cameron Fox and Ayden Allen.
• Wildcat starting pitcher Colton Meyer settled in and held the Pirates scoreless over the next three frames until the fifth. He finished after 4.1 innings where he allowed four six on seven hits. Meyer walked five and struck out two.
• In the bottom of the fifth Poffenrot answered again with a three-run homer deep over the wall in left that brought in Ben Wintringe and Tanner Bailey. The third homer of the year for Poffenrot cut the Wildcats lead to one, 5-4.
• Poffenrot came to the plate again the the fifth. He singled to left center and brought in two more runs to give the Pirates a 10-5 lead. Whitworth scored 9 runs in the frame.
• The Pirates went on to score eight more runs over the next three innings for a final score of 18-5.
• Wyatt Smith led the 'Cats with three of their 12 hits. He went 3 for 4 and reached on a walk. Zach Cokos, Cromwell and Allen each had two hits in the contest.
• Errors plagued the 'Cats in the series opener. Linfield committed four errors in the loss and allowed six unearned runs.

NEXT
 
The three-game series in Spokane continues tomorrow morning. Doubleheader action between the Wildcats and the Pirates is scheduled for 11 a.m. from Merkel Field.