FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Linfield baseball has fallen in seven straight Northwest Conference games following a pair of losses to the first-place Pacific Boxers, who shared the regular season championship with the Wildcats just a season ago.
The Boxers picked up a three-game series sweep Saturday at Chuck Bafaro Stadium, taking 13-4 and 14-6 wins over the Wildcats, who have dropped 11 of their last 12 games. Pitching continues to be a concern for the 'Cats as all 27 runs allowed were earned.
Tyler Marr collected four hits in the doubleheader while
Jesse Lopez turned in a 4-for-5 day with a run and an RBI in his first varsity appearances since March 5 at Puget Sound.
GAME 1: Pacific 13, Linfield 4
A seven-run fourth inning propelled Pacific to a nine-run victory in Saturday's opener. The Boxers scored seven runs on as many hits, highlighted by a three-run blast to left field off the bat of catcher Isaac Lovings, who went 3 for 5 with five RBI.
Linfield sent runners across the plate in the second and fourth innings on fielder's choices by
Brett Joner and
Trent Wainfeld, respectively.
Branden Pasion drove in a run on an RBI single in the seventh while Lopez added an RBI base knock in the ninth.
Lopez came off the bench and went 2 for 2 after taking over for
Jake Hoskins at shortstop in the seventh inning. Marr was 2 for 5 while
Nick Holm went 2 for 4 with a run scored in the second inning.
John Over suffered the loss after allowing 12 runs on 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings pitched.
Logan Travis and
Joel French had scoreless outings out of the bullpen.
GAME 2: Pacific 14, Linfield 6
Pacific scored in bunches again, outhitting Linfield 19-9 with four doubles and four homers. The Boxers jumped out to a 7-0 lead after two innings, chasing Wildcat starter
Casey Struckmeier out of the game after he collected just five outs.
The Wildcats put up a crooked number in the third, scoring four runs on an error, a wild pitch and a two-run single by
Danny Kahn. Pasion ripped an RBI single in the fourth to cut the Boxers' lead to two, and
Cameron Skinner had an RBI hit of his own in the fifth.
Kahn's two RBI led the 'Cats while Marr and Lopez registered two hits apiece. Lopez made his first collegiate start at third base.
NEXT
Linfield (10-21, 6-13 NWC) will welcome Pacific Lutheran back to Roy Helser Field for the third time this season on Wednesday as the 'Cats host the Lutes in a doubleheader that was rescheduled from Feb. 26 due to inclement weather. First pitch is set for noon.
