MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Newcomers
Reid Sturn and
Chase Elliott aided the Linfield Wildcats' come from behind, 4-3 win over the Pacific Lutheran Lutes on Sunday afternoon at Roy Helser Field. The Wildcats scored three runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.
Sunday's win helped Linfield split the season-opening four game series against Pacific Lutheran, both teams are now 2-2. This weekend's games do not count towards the Northwest Conference standings.
Sophomore
Braden Thorn made his first career start on Sunday for the Wildcats. Though he was on the roster during the shortened 2020 season, he did not get an outing in before the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the season. The Sherwood, Oregon, native pitched 4.1 shutout innings, giving up six hits and a walk and striking out one Lute.
The game was scoreless through the first four and a half innings. Linfield scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth on a double steal by Garett Moen and
Tanner Jacques. PLU's Cole Trotignon tried to pick off Jacques off first base, allowing Moen to steal home.
All three runs for the Lutes came in the top of the sixth. They loaded the bases with no outs, Jordan Haworth scored on a sacrifice fly by Cody Bentley. Trotignon scored on a bases loaded walk allowed by
Cameron Skinner and Connor Lemma touched home plate on a balk by Skylar Manelski, who recovered and pitched two innings and allowed just one hit and no earned runs.
Down to their final chance, the Wildcats pinch hit for Skinner in the middle of an at-bat with
Daniel Kahn, who rewarded with a single. After the next two batters flied out,
Tanner Earhart drew a walk to move the tying run on base.
Freshman Sturn came up at the plate with two runners on base and Linfield down to its final out. He hit a double down the left field line that scored Kahn and moved Earhart 90 feet away from tying the game.
Elliott, a junior transfer from Chemeteka Community College hit a bloop single that fell between three PLU fielders and was enough for Earhart and Sturn to round home plate and give Linfield its second consecutive win.
The Wildcats' three runs in the bottom of the ninth came off Alex Gregory, who has 15 saves during his career. Gregory was credited with the loss.
Evan Bates, who pitched 1.2 no-hit innings and struck out two, got the win for Linfield.
Lutes' starter Trotignon pitched 6.1 innings, allowing five hits and a walk and was in line for the win.
Linfield had eight hits in the game, Jacques was the lone 'Cats with a multi-hit game, the Vancouver, Washington, native had two. Elliott had two of three RBIs and Sturn had the other.
UP NEXT
In the final weekend before the start of NWC play, Linfield faces Willamette in Salem, Oregon on Saturday and Sunday. Both games are doubleheaders, with first pitch of both game ones being scheduled for noon.
