FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The Linfield Wildcats' pursuit of their first Northwest Conference Tournament championship since 2017 fell just short as the team dropped both games to the top-seeded and host Pacific Boxers on Championship Sunday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
Pacific scored nine runs in the span of three innings to run away with an 11-4 win in Game 1 of what ended up turning into a doubleheader. The Boxers outlasted the Wildcats, 8-5, in Game 2 to earn the NWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament. The Boxers and 'Cats were named co-champions of the regular season after finishing with 14-10 NWC marks.
GAME 1: Pacific 11, Linfield 4
Headlined by a five-run fifth inning, Pacific forced the if-necessary game. The Boxers put up 15 hits while limiting the 'Cats to four runs on four hits. The 'Cats committed three errors.
Mike LaVigne provided the run production with an RBI fielder's choice in the fifth inning and a two-run double to right field in the ninth.
Tanner Jacques,
Garrett Moen and
Cage Hardy also collected hits while
Daniel Kahn had a sacrifice fly.
Isaac Lovings turned in a 4-for-5 performance with a run and an RBI single in the seventh. Cole Strober, Nolan McNeill and Damon Tanner all notched two hits. Tyler Quinn and Brad Altomare led the way with two runs driven in.
Lefty
John Over went 3 2/3 innings in his third loss of the season. He allowed five runs, just two earned, on seven hits while striking out two.
Gavin Ludlow struck out three in 1 2/3 while
Grant Knox had two Ks.
GAME 2: Pacific 8, Linfield 5
Linfield was within one run after seven innings, but Pacific scored a pair of insurance runs in the eighth to slam the door on a doubleheader sweep and the tournament title.
The Boxers were off to an early 5-1 lead after two. They got an RBI single by Ty Yukumoto and a two-run blast by Ryan Krout in the first inning and tacked on two more runs on a Strober double to right field.
Jacques rocked a two-run homer to left in the third to cut the deficit to 5-3, but Pacific answered with a run in the fourth when Yukumoto came up clutch again with an RBI single. A bases-loaded hit by pitch by
Ryan Kamp and a Moen sacrifice fly put the 'Cats within reach, but it wasn't enough to complete the comeback. Jacques scored twice in the game. He,
Branden Pasion and Kahn all notched two hits.
A total of 11 pitchers entered the game.
Gage Mack took the loss in his fourth start of the season after allowing five runs on four hits.
Colton Meyer, who usually closes games for the 'Cats, took the mound in the second inning and struck out six batters.
NEXT
Linfield ends its title chase at 20-17 overall and 14-10 in NWC play. The 'Cats still have five road non-conference games on their 2022 slate, starting with NAIA Bushnell at 4 p.m. Tuesday in Eugene, Oregon. They will play the Boxers in Forest Grove again on Wednesday before heading to Caldwell, Idaho, to play a three-game series at NAIA College of Idaho over the weekend.
