WALLA WALLA, Wash.- The Linfield Wildcats comeback effort came up just a bit too short at Borleske Stadium in Walla Walla on Sunday afternoon. The Wildcats had four hits to score six runs in the final inning, but stranded two runners in scoring position to fall to the Whitman Blues, 11-7.
 
The home-side got on the board first with two runs on one hit off starter freshman Caden Slaughter. Brett Williams reached after getting hit by a pitch and proceeded to steal second, before advancing to third on a wild pitch. After a walk and a steal of second by Drew Vannaman, a ground out by starting pitcher Matthew Sox scored the first run of the game. Kevin Nakamura continued his strong weekend with a single and an RBI.
 
The bottom of the second inning started off harmless enough, with two outs on a ground out and pop up on the infield. But back to back walks and an error in the outfield got one across to make the score 3-0.
 
A walk, wild pitch and passed ball spelled trouble for the Wildcats in the bottom of the fifth. David Johnson hit a fly ball to right field that was caught, but Leo Rivera was able to score from third on the sacrifice fly.
 
Linfield had stranded six base runners in the opening five innings of the game before finally getting a run across in the sixth. Darrett Moen singled to get a runner on with two outs. Tanner Jacques followed that at-bat up with a double to score Moen and make the score 4-1. The shortstop for the 'Cats had four RBIs over the weekend, while reaching base safely five times, with all three of his hits going for two bases. The junior is hitting .306 in 10 starts since joining the program this season.
 
Brannan Meriwether came on for Callan McRae in the sixth and was greeted with a home run off of the bat of Jerick Nomura. Williams singled and moved up to second on an infield error. After two consecutive outs recorded by the 'Cats, Nakamura doubled home Williams and scored in the next at bat after Rivera singled. Rivera then scored on a single by Teague Conder to make the score 8-1. The junior Nakamura had eight hits in 11 at-bats, with five RBIs in the opening series of the Northwest Conference regular season. Rivera reached base seven times over the weekend.
 
Nakamura struck once again in the seventh inning, hitting a single with runners on the corners with two outs to score Williams off reliever Austin Thomas. The left-hander from Linfield got out of a jam with two runners in scoring position by inducing a groundout from Rivera to end the inning at 9-1.
 
Nomura struck one more time for some insurance in the bottom of the eighth inning, hitting his second home run of the afternoon to knock in two more runs and making the cushion for the Blues double-digits. The Blues outfielder had three RBIs for the game, while scoring three runs.
Cameron Skinner doubled to start the final inning of the game and advanced to third when Treve Earhart singled. Pinch-hitter Ayden Allen walked to load the bases and bring up Brian Cromwell. A second walk in the inning ended the day for freshman reliever Colson Ryan and got the 'Cats a run.
 
Earhart scored on a wild pitch in the next at bat and, after a Tanner Earhart walk, David Brosius doubled home two runs to make the score 11-4. Wyatt Smith walked to reload the bases, but Moen struck out for the first out of the inning. Jacques hit a sacrifice fly to score Tanner Earhart and Skinner doubled for a second time in the inning to knock in Brosius. Skinner has had back-to-back three hit games in his last two appearances as a hitter, last seeing at-bats on February 16^th against Pacific Lutheran. The two doubles were the first of his career after pitching four innings on Saturday.
 
Tristan Kalnins came on with the score at 11-7 to face Treve Earhart, who popped up to second base to end the comeback effort. The Wildcats stranded 11 runners on base in the loss and 35 runners over the weekend.
 
Slaughter (0-2) gave up three innings on one hit, while walking three. Matthew Sox (1-1) won his first game of the year, working five a two-thirds innings and striking out 10 while giving up one run. McRae had three innings of solid pitching, allowing two hits and one run. Brannan Meriwether and Austin Thomas were touched up for seven runs over three combined innings.
 
Ben Ranieri had two hits in the game before being replaced and is hitting .375 in five starts this season and 32 at-bats. Brosius had two hits and two RBIs while hitting .394 with seven RBIs on the season. Brosius is tied with Jacques and Cromwell for the second most on the team in that category behind Tanner Earhart.
 
 
UP NEXT
Linfield (4-6, 0-3 in NWC) will host their home opener against Pacific (5-5, 3-0) after the Boxers swept the Pioneers of Lewis & Clark. The double header on Saturday begins with first pitch at noon.