McMINNVILLE, Ore. - A late surge from Puget Sound spoiled Linfield's home finale Sunday at Roy Helser Field, as the Loggers scored four runs in the eighth inning to pull away for a 9-2 victory and secure the series 2-1.
Linfield was held hitless through the first four innings by Puget Sound starter Brett Harvey, who kept the Wildcats' bats silent with an impressive 7.2-inning performance. Harvey allowed just two runs on two hits, striking out six while walking three.
The Loggers jumped ahead early, scoring one run in the second and three more in the third off Linfield starter
Matthew Tacheny. Puget Sound capitalized on a defensive miscue in the second inning before Matt Churchill blasted a three-run home run in the third to extend the lead to 4-0.
Tacheny battled through three innings, allowing five hits while giving up four runs, all of them earned, with four strikeouts. But the Wildcats' offense couldn't muster a response until the eighth inning.
Trailing 5-0, Linfield looked to put some pressure on the Loggers but continued to struggle as Puget Sound broke through for four more runs in the top of the eighth after two doubles. Linfield finally broke through in the bottom of the frame as
Matthew Lewis delivered a two-run single to left field, cutting the deficit to 9-2.
Josh Mansur started the rally with a walk and advanced on a single by
Hunter Klingelhoffer before Lewis brought both home.
Linfield's offense was held to three hits on the afternoon, with Lewis, Mansur, and Klingehoffer each recording one. The Wildcats left eight runners on base.
Puget Sound racked up 13 hits, with Murphy leading the way, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Churchill went 2-for-5 with three RBI, and Drew Kamihara's late-game heroics sealed the win.
NEXT
The Wildcats close out the regular season next weekend with a pivotal three-game series at Lewis & Clark, where they will battle for a spot in the NWC Tournament.
