McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield outhit Whitworth and was even more impressive on the mound, but the Wildcats were unable to sweep the Pirates in a 2-1 loss Sunday at Roy Helser Field.
Whitworth opened the scoring in the second inning on an RBI infield hit by Ty Komoda.
Branden Pasion tied the game for Linfield in the third inning, sending a sacrifice fly to right field to score
Braden Woods from third.
The winning run for the Pirates crossed the plate in the fourth. Cameron Ley drove Aidan Morrison in on a single to left. Linfield had six at-bats to even the score again, but the Wildcats left seven runners stranded in that span to snap a three-game win streak.
Bodey Smith went 3 for 5 for the 'Cats in the leadoff spot, bringing his season total to 20 hits.
Danny Kahn and
Tyler Marr registered two hits apiece. Kahn had a hit in all three games this weekend. Game 3 was Marr's first two-hit game of the season.
The Linfield pitching staff allowed just four hits and struck out 10 batters in what turned into a bullpen game for the 'Cats. Two-way player
Wyatt Hurley made the first start of his collegiate career on the mound, throwing two innings and allowing one run on one hit. The 'Cats threw seven pitchers in the loss.
Connor Nelson tossed 1 1/3 innings in relief, striking out all four batters faced.
Hunter Dryden threw into the seventh inning for the Pirates to improve to 4-1 on the year. He allowed one run on eight hits while striking out six. Aidan Smith went the rest of the way to earn his first save of the season, claiming three victims of his own via strikeout.
NEXT
Linfield (7-9, 4-5 NWC) will welcome Pacific Lutheran back to town on Wednesday in a rescheduled game from Feb. 25-26. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. The other two games between the 'Cats and Lutes will be played on April 12.
