McMINNVILLE, Ore. – To say that the Wildcats started the game on fire would be an understatement. Linfield opened Wednesday's game with seven first inning runs on four hits as it rolled to a 9-4 victory over the Lewis & Clark Pioneers at Roy Helser Field.
Nate Kassler got the action started for the Wildcats with a single and two hit-by-pitches loaded the bases early before
Nick Holm and
Luke Porter each hit RBI singles and
Josh Mansur brought in three runs with a triple down the infield line to take a 5-0 lead.
Zach Jaeger then brought in the first run of his career on a bunt and reached home when
Elijah Maris singled through the left side for the sixth and seventh runs.
Holm finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and two runs, while Mansur added four RBI. Porter also reached base multiple times as part of Linfield's balanced offensive effort. The Wildcats added two more runs in the second inning after a walk and a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded brought in two more runs.
The Pios made a run in the seventh inning when Will Michelman grounded out, bringing Will Heron across homeplate. Justin Cavagnaro followed it up by reaching home on a passed ball and Bret Potter grounded out as well, plating Evyn Lewis
Emerson Dennis earned the win on the mound, tossing 1.2 innings and allowing just one run. The right-hander struck out three as Linfield played clean defense, committing zero errors. He was followed by a parade of relievers—
Colton Ouellette,
Cooper Justice,
Zack Hampson, and
Gavin Ludlow—who combined to hold the Pioneers to just one hit over the final six innings.
Lewis & Clark's early pitching struggles—including four hit batters and five walks—proved costly. The Pioneers managed just four hits, though Brandon Gonzaga did go deep with a solo homer in the third.
NEXT
Linfield returns to Northwest Conference play this weekend with a home series against Whitworth on Saturday and Sunday.
