McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
Hunter Klingelhoffer's RBI to centerfield lifted the Wildcats to a 6-5 game two win over Whitman to split the two-game slate on Friday afternoon at Roy Helser Field. Whitman's two-run ninth inning gave the Blues the game-one win 9-8.
GAME 1: Whitman 9 - Linfield 8
Camden Oram went six innings, seeing 27 batters, giving up five runs and totaling three strikeouts.
Gavin Ludlow (0-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs in the ninth inning.
Jake Hoskins,
Tyler Marr and
Trent Wainfeld tied for the team lead with two hits while Hoskins, Marr and
Elijah Maris each tallied two RBIs.
For the Blues, Beck Maguire, Brandon Ting and Halen Otte each finished with three hits with the same trio combining for seven RBIs. Wyatt Adams earned the save while Billy Wall earned his first win.
Whitman and Linfield matched big runs as the game went on. The Wildcats and Blues each plated five runs in the first five innings. The 'Cats clawed ahead in the bottom of the eighth off a Marr RBI to right field. However, Maguire's two-run home run pulled the Blues ahead as the visitors edged out the game-one win.
GAME 2: Linfield 6 - Whitman 5
Six pitchers touched the rubber for the Wildcats with
Brian Mannion getting the win. Marr and
Nick Holm combined for five RBIs while Marr and
Danny Kahn tied with two hits.
Jacob Swenson struggled through the first two frames but only gave up two earned runs and four walks while seeing 22 total batters.
On offense for Whitman (4-5, 3-2 NWC), Maguire and Mateus Conaway both finished with two hits. Julien Hernandez gave up three runs, five hits and struck out eight Linfield batters in five innings of work.
The Blues grabbed an early 2-0 lead after the second inning. Five runs across the fourth, fifth and seventh innings put the Wildcats on top until a three-run top of the ninth frame tied the contest at five. Klingelhoffer's pop up to centerfield was lost but the Blues' defensive player as Nick Santulli came across to score for the winning run.
ON DECK
The Wildcats (5-5, 2-1 NWC) return to Roy Helser Field on Saturday for the series finale against Whitman at noon.
