PORTLAND, Ore. - Linfield clinched the final spot in the Northwest Conference Tournament with a 7-5 victory over Lewis & Clark in the regular-season finale Sunday at Jerry Gatto Field. The Wildcats used a strong offensive performance to hold off the Pioneers and secure their postseason bid.
First baseman
Nick Holm led the charge, going 3-for-6 with two home runs and five RBIs, including a two-run blast in the first inning that set the tone. Holm added a solo shot in the sixth and an RBI double in the third. Shortstop
Elijah Maris also delivered, going 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, while
Trent Wainfeld scored twice to help fuel the offense.
Linfield built an early 5-0 lead, but Lewis & Clark chipped away with three runs in the fourth, capitalizing on a Wildcats error. The Pioneers trimmed the deficit to 5-4 in the fifth after Brandon Gonzaga reached home on a wild pitch, but Holm's second homer and an unearned run by
Tyler Marr off an error in the seventh provided crucial insurance.
On the mound, starter
Matthew Tacheny earned the win with four innings of work, allowing three runs (two earned) while striking out three. Relievers
Zach Johnson and
Colton Ouellette combined for five innings, allowing just two runs, with Ouellette recording his fifth save after stranding the tying run in the ninth. Lewis & Clark's Luke Ritter took the loss after surrendering five runs (four earned) in 2.2 innings.
With the victory, Linfield clinched the NWC's fourth and final tournament berth for its first appearance since 2021. The Wildcats regular season concludes with 24 wins, the most in the
Dan Spencer era. The NWC Tournament will be hosted by Pacific in Forest Grove.
