McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The Linfield Wildcats and Puget Sound Loggers traded punches in a Northwest Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Roy Helser Field, with each team taking a win. The Loggers claimed the opener 6-4 behind late-inning heroics, while the Wildcats responded with a convincing 5-1 victory in the second game, powered by
Jake Swenson's stellar outing on the mound.
GAME 1: Puget Sound 6, Linfield 4
Despite out-hitting the Loggers 9-6, Linfield couldn't hold onto a late lead in the opener. The Wildcats committed three errors, which proved costly in a tightly contested affair.
Puget Sound struck first with a run in the top of the first, but Linfield quickly answered and built a 3-1 lead by the end of the third. The big swing came from
Nick Holm, who blasted a two-run homer in the third inning to give Linfield the lead.
Starter
Camden Oram pitched 8.2 innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on six hits while striking out eight, a season high for the senior. He kept the Loggers off the board through the middle innings, but Puget Sound broke through with a three-run sixth to reclaim the lead.
Puget Sound's Jim O'Brien delivered a clutch two-run double to tie the game, and the Loggers took the lead for the final time in the ninth when Matt Churchill homered to left field, bringing in two runs. Linfield reliever Colton Oulette finished out the game in the ninth.
Defensively, Linfield's miscues led to scoring chances for the Loggers, who capitalized with timely hitting, ultimately delivering the deciding blow in the final frame.
GAME 2: Linfield 5, Puget Sound 1
Sophomore
Jake Swenson was electric in the second game, striking out 15, pitching a full game and allowing only five hits. He didn't walk a batter and gave up just one unearned run in the ninth. The right-hander's dominant outing kept the Logger lineup off balance all game.
Offensively, Linfield got to Puget Sound starter Cal Johnson early.
Rylan Gullard was the first to cross home plate in the third when a wild pitch allowed the Wildcat runners to advance.
Matthew Lewis followed up the wild pitch with a single to right field that brought in
Marco Santulli to put the Wildcats up 2-0.
Luke Porter opened up the fourth inning with a left field bomb on the first pitch that sailed over the outfield fence for Linfield's third run of the game. Gullard brought in Marr in the sixth and Lewis hit a homer of his own to put the Wildcats up 5-0 and seal the game.
Linfield was efficient with their six hits and drew five walks, turning opportunities into runs.
NEXT
Linfield wraps up its series against the Loggers on Sunday with first pitch scheduled for noon from Roy Helser Field as the Wildcats' seniors will be honored in their final home game.
