TUCSON, Ariz. – Tanner Earhart and David Brosius got it done with the bats in the finale of the Tucson Cactus Classic, defeating Redlands 7-5 at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium. Brosius also pitched in the final two innings to record his first save of the season.
 
The two struck in the first inning, getting Linfield on the board first. Tanner Jacques was moved up to second in the lineup and hit a double. With two outs, Earhart doubled to center to score Jacques. Brosius followed that up with a double to left to score Earhart and make it 2-0. Linfield scored first in all four games over the weekend, with two-run bursts to start each game.
 
Four straight one-out singles from Redlands off starting pitcher Wyatt Smith in the first made it 2-1. With the bases loaded though, Smith bared down and proceeded to strike out the next hitter and induced a ground out to end the threat.
 
Linfield tacked on another run in the second inning, starting with a Garrett Moen single. Moen stole second for his first career theft to move up another 90 feet. Evan Bates singled down the left field line and advanced to second on the outfielder's throw to third. Moen scored when Connor Callanan hit into a 3-6 force-out double play.
 
With two outs and a runner on first, Brosius tripled scoring Tanner Earhart to start a two-out rally. Smith, now the designated hitter after Samuel Adams entered the game on the mound in the second, singled in Brosius the next at-bat before stealing second. Moen forced an error committed on the infield that allowed Smith to score, making the score 6-3.
 
Redlands added a run in the fourth off Samuel Adams with a triple and then an RBI ground out, but that was the only damage done against the Linfield right-hander. Adams lasted two and one-third innings, allowing one hit and the one run, while striking out a batter in another strong relief appearance. The sophomore only allowed two hits in four and a third innings pitched during the weekend.
 
Austin Thomas came on in the bottom of the fifth and got a ground out to open the inning. After a single, a pop-up to shortstop gave the 'Cats two outs with a Bulldog runner on first. Ensuing singles and two walks cut the Linfield lead down to two. With the bases loaded, Thomas struck out Max Smyly to end the innings. Smyly was 4-4 with 3 RBIs against Linfield on Friday, but Thomas got a clutch out to retire the side.
 
Brosius took over on the mound in the sixth and got a quick fly out. But back-to-back singles put runners on first and second. After a line-out to left field gave the Wildcats two outs, Cal Bridges hit a single to center to make the score 6-5. Another single loaded the bases, but Brosius stopped the bleeding by getting a ground out to end the Bulldogs threat.
 
Insurance for the Wildcats finally came in the seventh inning in the form of Tanner Earhart. After going scoreless over the previous three innings, the junior unloaded on a one-out pitch and hit it over the left field fence for his first home run of the season. The Wildcats placed runners on the corners with two outs. Linfield looked to try to steal a run and had Moen swipe second base. The throw went down to second and Brosius took off for home from third. But a great heads-up play by the Redlands defense cut Brosius down at the plate to end the inning.
 
In a seven inning baseball game, Redlands had one last opportunity to get back into the game. The Bulldogs led off with a base hit before Smyley struck out for the first out. A second base hit put two runners on board. Brosius forced a fly ball for the second out of the inning and during the next at bat, both runners moved up an extra base on a wild pitch. With the tying run in scoring position, Brosius got a ground ball hit to second by Alex Olague and Ben Whitt threw on to Cameron Skinner at first to seal the win for Linfield. Olague came to the plate with three hits and an RBI at that point before ending the game.
 
Brosius allowed six hits and one earned run, getting the one strike out. His three hits led the team offensively and tied with Tanner Earhart to lead the team with two RBIs. Earhart scored three times and Ben Whitt, Smith, Jacques, Moen and Evan Bates each had a hit. Callan McRae came on in the middle innings and got two outs while striking out one. Adams (1-0) recorded his first career Linfield win, getting the decision in relief.
 
Michael Rishebarger (0-1) took the loss for Redlands (2-2). The senior gave up six runs, five earned, and eight hits over three innings of work. Mark Kirkland and Matthew Brumbaugh each had two hits.
 
UP NEXT
Linfield (2-2) hosts the Oregon NWC Classic in McMinnville February 15 and 16. Puget Sound will be in town Saturday for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Pacific Lutheran takes on Linfield on Sunday, with first pitch of that doubleheader at noon.