NEWBERG, Ore. – Linfield baseball opened Northwest Conference play against cross-county rival George Fox, splitting a doubleheader with the Bruins Saturday at the Morse Athletic Field.
The Wildcats scored eight unanswered runs to take Game 1 by a score of 12-3. In the tail end of the twinbill, the Bruins piled on seven runs in the eighth inning to even the series with a 12-5 win.
Freshman third baseman
Nick Holm was a perfect 6 for 6 at the plate with two home runs to lead the Linfield rout in the opener.
Branden Pasion,
Jake Hoskins and
Cameron Skinner all recorded two or more hits in each game.
GAME 1: Linfield 12, George Fox 3
Linfield put up four runs in the second inning to take an early lead. Leading 4-3 after four innings, the Linfield pitching staff silenced the Bruins for the rest of the game while the Wildcat offense scored in each of the last five innings.
The Wildcats outhit the Bruins, 19-8. Six of those hits came off the bat of Holm, who put the 'Cats on the board with a two-run homer in the second inning. The 'Cats also got RBI singles from
Garrett Moen and Hoskins to jump ahead early.
Holm continued his banner game with RBI singles to left field in the fifth and sixth innings. He hit a solo shot over the fence in the eighth inning, driving in his fifth run of the game for Linfield. The newcomer's six hits tied a single-game program record, matching Stew Davis' mark from the 2006 season.
Pasion went 3 for 4 with a run and two RBI while Hoskins,
Bodey Smith and Skinner all turned in two-hit performances. Pasion sent two runs across the plate with RBI singles in the seventh and ninth innings.
Jackson Koons picked up his first win of the season. The sophomore lefty went 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits. The duo of
Gavin Ludlow and
Skyler Manelski held the Bruins scoreless to finish the game. Ludlow struck out five batters in 3 2/3 innings of work.
GAME 2: George Fox 12, Linfield 5
George Fox returned the favor with 12 runs in the second game. With the game tied at 5-apiece, the Bruins broke the game wide open with a seven-run eighth inning.
Hoskins, Pasion and Skinner all went 2 for 4. Pasion drove in two more runs, singling to center field to plate Moen in the first inning and then punching another single up the middle to send Hoskins home in the fifth.
Hoskins is riding an eight-game hit streak to start the season. He's had multi-hit outings in all but one game since joining the program this season.
NEXT
The 'Cats (3-5, 1-1 NWC) look to take the series on Sunday. First pitch for the finale is set for noon.
