MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – In their first game since March 8, 2020, the Linfield Wildcats fell 14-4 to the visiting Pacific Lutheran Lutes in a non-conference game on Friday afternoon at Roy Helser Field.
 
This game was the season opener for both teams, PLU is now 1-0 and Linfield is 0-1. Though both teams are in the Northwest Conference, this game does not count towards the conference standings.
 
The Lutes got on the board in the first inning when Cole Trotignon reached on a fielding error by the Wildcats' second baseman, Mike LaVigne, scoring was Tori Doten.
 
Pacific Lutheran added two more in the top of third, Andy Schmitz scored on an RBI-groundout by Trotignon and Jordan Haworth scoring on an RBI base hit by Austin Gormley.
 
Linfield got its first runs on the board in the home half of the third, when Garrett Moen was driven by Cameron Skinner on a fielder's choice. The 'Cats were threatening to score more with runners at the corners, but the Lutes were able to get out of the inning.
 
Colton Meyer took the mound for the Wildcats to start the game, he was credited with the loss, going three innings and allowing five earned runs on five hits and five walks. Meyer fanned four Lutes' batters.
 
PLU's Justin Tucker was the winning pitcher, tossing 5.2 innings, giving up two earned runs on two hits and four walks.
 
The Lutes scored five runs each in the fourth and the fifth innings to take a commanding 13-1 lead after five.
 
In the fourth, two runs came with the bases loaded, first being on a wild pitch and the second coming on a walk drawn by Trotignon, who had game high six RBIs.
 
Gormley and Armond Swanson III picked up RBIs in the fourth on two sac-flys and Connor Lemma drove in Haworth on a RBI single.
 
The Lutes loaded the bases again in the fifth and it was Trotignon who cleared them with a three-run double down the left field line. Lemma followed that up with a two-run home run also going to left field.
 
Trotignon picked up his final RBI of the game, driving in Andy Schmitz on a single in the sixth.
 
Linfield scored the final three runs of the game, Wyatt Smith driving in LaVigne on a double down the right field line in the sixth.
 
Freshman Reid Sturn picked up his first career RBI on a groundout in the seventh, driving in Jackson Horner. Garrett Moen hit a sac-fly to right in the eighth, bringing home Tanner Earhart.
 
Boasting a newcomer class of 30 Wildcats, freshmen LaVigne and Daniel Kahn made their first career starts as well as junior Chase Elliot, a transfer from Chemeteka Community College, making his Linfield debut.
 
Freshman Sturn and sophomore Horner made their varsity debuts, coming in as pinch hitters and playing in the field. Jarrett Allen pitched a shutout ninth inning, which was his first collegiate inning.
 
UP NEXT
The 'Cats and the Lutes are back in action on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at Noon. Both games will be seven innings.
 
Per Northwest Conference Protocols, no spectators are allowed at Linfield athletics events this season.