WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Linfield scored four runs in the eighth inning, but the Wildcats needed more than that as they fell short in a 9-6 loss to Whitman in the series finale Sunday at Borleske Stadium.
Whitman struck out 13 Linfield batters. Eight of those punchouts came from starter Mateus Conaway, who scored the game-tying run in Saturday's opener that saw the Blues win in extra innings. He improved to 4-0 on the year, allowing two unearned runs on three hits in 6 2/3 innings of work. Rylan Burigsay picked up the final seven outs and fanned five more Wildcats.
Nick Holm's two-run single in the third inning gave Linfield a 2-1 lead. The Blues scored a pair of runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning to take back the lead. They tacked on a combined six runs in the fifth and sixth innings to put a Linfield comeback out of reach.
The 'Cats cut into the Whitman lead in the eighth inning. After back-to-back singles by
Danny Kahn and
Branden Pasion,
Jackson Horner ripped an RBI single to score Kahn from second base.
Trent Wainfeld continued his productive series when he hit a two-run double with the bases loaded. An RBI groundout by
Garrett Moen brought the game to a 9-6 contest.
Kahn and Pasion both collected two hits in the loss. Wainfeld and Holm shared the team lead with their two RBI.
Casey Struckmeier took the loss after a three-inning start. He allowed three runs, two earned, on four hits with as many strikeouts.
Braden Thorn threw the last two innings for the 'Cats, holding the Blues scoreless while only giving up one hit.
NEXT
Linfield (9-11, 6-7 NWC) will play at Willamette in a non-conference game at 3 p.m. Wednesday. The 'Cats will return to Roy Helser Field on March 25-26 to host Lewis & Clark.
