TACOMA, Wash. – Linfield inched one step closer to earning a spot in the Northwest Conference tournament as the Wildcats split Saturday's doubleheader with Pacific Lutheran. The 'Cats dropped the opener, 5-0, before getting the last laugh with a 2-1 win in Game 2 at the PLU baseball field.
A win in tomorrow's finale would clinch the 'Cats a spot in the tournament. They could still find their way in, depending on results from other games across the conference and tiebreakers.
Linfield (17-15) and Pacific Lutheran (20-13) remain tied for second place with 13-10 NWC records. The Wildcats committed four errors and were held scoreless in the opener. The pitching staff took care of business in the nightcap, allowing just two hits while striking out eight.
GAME 1: Pacific Lutheran 5, Linfield 0
Linfield collected six hits, two by
Branden Pasion, but the 'Cats couldn't send a runner across the plate. Pasion went 2 for 4 with a double while
Garrett Moen,
Mike LaVigne,
Cage Hardy and
Ryan Kamp also had hits.
Pacific Lutheran scored in the second inning on a sacrifice fly to center field by Ethan Keintz that scored John Graham. The Lutes took control of the game with a three-run home run to right by Jordan Haworth in the fourth inning. They got more insurance in the fifth when Andy Schmitz ripped an RBI double down the left field line.
Jackson Koons took the loss for the 'Cats after allowing five runs, four earned, on seven hits.
Logan Travis and
Sam Adams both had scoreless outings in relief to limit the damage. The Lutes' Spencer Howell improved to 6-1 on the season. He tossed 7 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing five hits.
GAME 2: Linfield 2, Pacific Lutheran 1
Graham hit what would've been a walk-off two-run homer to center field, but Linfield's Moen made a leaping catch to rob the Lutes of a doubleheader sweep on their home turf.
Pasion had another two-hit performance, driving in
Tanner Jacques in the first inning on a single up the middle. Cole Trotignon knocked an RBI single in the fourth to tie the game at 1-1. Linfield took the lead in the sixth on a
Jackson Horner RBI double to center that scored Jacques for his second run of the game.
Andrew Del Biaggio tossed a two-hit gem, allowing just one run while striking out six in seven innings of work. He improved to 3-5 on the season and has 50 Ks.
Colton Meyer struck out two more Lutes in two innings pitched to bag his sixth save of the season.
Pitching was strong for both teams as the 'Cats and Lutes combined for six hits. Tommy Snyder had a solid outing for PLU but didn't get enough run support. He held the 'Cats to two runs on four hits while fanning five in 7 1/3 innings.
NEXT
Linfield and Pacific Lutheran will meet again on Saturday. First pitch for the rubber match has been moved up to 10 a.m. due to anticipated weather conditions.
