McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield fell just short in Game 1 but bounced back in Game 2 to split a doubleheader with second-place Pacific Saturday afternoon at Roy Helser Field.
 
The Wildcats have won two straight Northwest Conference series entering the weekend. They will have a chance to win a third-straight series in Sunday's rubber match.
 
GAME 1: Pacific 3, Linfield 2
Linfield nearly stormed back from three runs down in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the Wildcats fell just short in a 3-2 loss in Game 1.
 
The 'Cats sent eight batters to the plate in the last inning. Branden Pasion led off the inning with a four-pitch walk and then advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Daniel Kahn ripped a pinch-hit single to center to drive in Pasion and take away the shutout. Later in the inning, Jacob Campos slapped a double down the left-field line to move Kahn over to third. Campos was responsible for three of Linfield's four hits in the game with a 3-for-4 performance.
 
Bodey Smith drew a walk to load the bases before Garrett Moen was hit by a pitch to make it a 3-2 ballgame. But in the end, Pacific's Liam Cammall struck out Linfield shortstop Tanner Jacques to close out the win and claim his third save of the season.
 
Pacific opened the scoring in the first inning on a Ryan Krout fielder's choice that scored Damon Tanner from third. Brad Altomare gave the Boxers another run with an RBI triple to right-center before Krout worked his magic again with a solo home run in the eighth. It was his seventh homer of the season. Krout and Altomare each went 2 for 4 in the game.
 
Will Clark went seven innings strong for the Boxers to improve to 4-1 on the season. He limited the 'Cats to two hits while striking out nine. Jackson Koons fell to 2-3 in the loss after allowing two earned runs on seven hits with two Ks.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 4, Pacific 2
Tanner Jacques' three-run home run and a solid showing from the pitching staff highlighted Linfield's 4-2 win over Pacific in Game 2.
 
Jacques crushed a three-run home run to center field in the fifth inning to put the Wildcats ahead. Isaac Lovings fired back for the Boxers with a solo shot off the batter's eye in center field. Garrett Moen got the Linfield lead back to three runs with an infield single that drove in Bodey Smith.
 
John Over limited the damage in four innings of work, holding the Boxers scoreless while striking out five. Skyler Manelski earned his first win of the season after tossing a perfect fifth inning. A Patrick Muskat RBI single in the ninth cut the Wildcats' lead to 4-2, but a three-inning save by Colton Meyer slammed the door on a doubleheader split. Meyer struck out a season-high seven batters.
 
Smith and Moen collected two hits apiece to help the 'Cats secure their seventh win in their last 10 games.
 
NEXT
Linfield (11-11, 8-6 NWC) and Pacific (15-10, 10-7 NWC) will settle the series at noon on Sunday. The 'Cats will then play George Fox in a non-conference game on Tuesday.
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