McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Six Linfield pitchers held visiting Lewis & Clark to only two hits in a 2-1 win on Tuesday evening at Roy Helser Field.
Brian Mannion recorded his third save in four games while
Hunter Klingelhoffer recorded three of the Wildcats' 10 hits.
Elijah Maris,
Matthew Lewis and
Brett Joner all recorded two hits apiece.
Steve Kovac (1-0) earned his first win of the season after pitching two innings in relief and racking up a team-high four strikeouts. Linfield (12-15) stranded 10 runners one base while Lewis & Clark stranded seven.
The Pioneers also stretched their bullpen, deploying seven total pitchers with Connor Broschard (0-1) being tagged with the loss. Bret Potter and Eli Steinhaus recorded both of Lewis & Clark's hits. Brennen Davis drove in Lewis & Clark's (13-14-1) only RBI.
The Pioneers scored their first run before recording their first hit after pushing a runner across in the top of the third. Linfield responded with a single run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Joner came in to score.
The Wildcats grabbed their first lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. An errant throw from the Pioneer's third baseman allowed Hoskins to cross home plate as the 'Cats pulled ahead 2-1. Lewis & Clark put a runner in scoring position in the eighth and ninth innings but
Gavin Ludlow and Mannion held off the late rally attempts.
ON DECK
The Wildcats are back on the field Saturday when they travel to face Pacific Lutheran for a doubleheader starting at noon.
