MCMINNVILLE, Ore. – Despite home runs from
Mike LaVigne and three RBIs from
Wyatt Smith in game two, the Linfield Wildcats lost both ends of the doubleheader against the Lewis & Clark Pioneers on Sunday at Roy Helser Field by scores of 11-0 and 5-4 respectively.
The Pioneers sweep the weekend series over the Wildcats and are now 5-3 on the season. The Wildcats fall to 3-11 overall and 1-5 in Northwest Conference play.
GAME 1: Lewis & Clark 11, Linfield 0
Following the two wins on Saturday, the Pioneers won game one in eight innings via the 10-run rule, which was implemented by the NWC for conference games in 2021.
They had the bases loaded in the second inning of game one on Sunday. Jacob Serafini hit a two-run single to give the Pioneers an early 2-0 lead.
Lewis & Clark added four more runs in the fifth on an RBI base hit by Tyler Gannon, a two-run double to right field by Sammy Benbow and a single by Luke Bass that scored Benbow.
Two more runs came in the sixth for the Pioneers on a fielding error by the Wildcats, scoring on the play were Sam Helms and Justin Bailey. In the eighth, Henry Goodier drove in two and Dylan Moore hit an RBI groundout. Jack Thomson, Zack Kon and Sammy Benbow scored two runs each.
On the mound for Lewis & Clark, Brett Pierson got the win, tossing seven shutout innings, giving up three hits and striking out six on no walks. Tyler Shimabukuro came in to toss a perfect Tyler Shimabukuro.
Reid Sturn had two of three hits for the Wildcats, Smith had the other. They were the only Wildcats to reach base safely.
Grant Knox lost his third game of the season, giving up six earned runs in 4.2 innings.
Cameron Skinner tossed shutout 1.1 innings as well as
Cody Stevenson and
Michael Schutz, who made his college debut, threw shutout one innings each.
Linfield committed four errors in the field.
GAME 2: Lewis & Clark 5, Linfield 4.
Runs came for the Wildcats right away in the second game, which was scheduled for seven innings.
Mike LaVigne batted in the leadoff spot for the first time on Sunday and hit a solo home run to left field to start the game.
Tanner Jacques followed Lavigne and drew a walk. He came around to score on an RBI by Smith to give Linfield a 2-0 lead after the first.
Pios played small ball in the top of the third to tie the game. After Helms and Moore got on base via singles, Serafini drove both of them into scoring position via a bunt and Michael Contreras brought home Helms on a sacrifice fly.
Thomson hit a single to left center after Contreras to drive in Moore.
Levi Horner-Villa led off the bottom of the third with a single. He came around to score on a two-run home run by Smith to left center. It was the first home run of the season for the McMinnville, Oregon, native. He had two of the five hits by the team.
Lewis & Clark got to within 4-3 in the fourth with an RBI base hit by Helms that drove in Benbow.
Andrew Del Biaggio started the game for the Wildcats. He pitched four innings, giving up three earned runs, striking out four and issuing no walks. He was in line for the win when he was relieved by
Jarrett Allen in the fifth.
Contreras got on base to start the fifth on a single down the left field line and moved to second on a groundout by Thomson. Zack Kon followed a with a single to give Lewis & Clark runners on the corners with one out. Contreras scored on a fielder's choice by Gannon.
The Pios took the lead on a single by Bass that brought home Gannon. Benbow tried to extend the lead but was caught stealing home plate. Allen gave up four hits in two innings and gave up two earned runs. He was credited with the loss.
Jordan Gonzalez gave up four earned runs in 3.2 innings on five hits. The rest of the Pios bullpen comprised of Kris Wuelfing, Stephen Baker and Dylan Moore tossed shutout 3.1 innings. Wuelfing got the win and Moore got the save.
Sunday was the first game in the lineup for freshman catcher
Brett Joner.
Colton Meyer came in to pitch the seventh for the Wildcats, he retired the side in order.
UP NEXT
Linfield continues conference play with a series on the road at Whitworth next weekend. Start time for the doubleheaders for Saturday and Sunday is scheduled for 12 noon.
