FOREST GROVE, Ore. - The fourth-seeded Linfield Wildcats saw their Northwest Conference Tournament hopes take a blow Thursday afternoon, falling 5-4 to top-seeded Pacific on a walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning at Chuck Bafaro Stadium.
 
Linfield struck early, capitalizing on a Pacific error to take a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Trent Wainfeld reached on a mistake by the Boxers' first baseman, advanced to second on a groundout, and scored on Elijah Maris' RBI single. Matthew Lewis, who singled earlier in the frame, came home on Luke Porter's RBI groundout to give the Wildcats an early advantage.
 
Pacific responded in the second inning when Matt Gibbs scored on a double play, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Wildcats starter Camden Oram worked through early traffic, stranding runners in scoring position in the third and fourth innings to preserve the lead.
 
The game turned in the fifth when the Boxers strung together four hits, including Benjamin Lewis' two-run double, to take a 4-2 lead. Linfield answered immediately in the sixth, tying the game on Josh Mansur's RBI fielder's choice and Tyler Marr's clutch two-out single that plated Lewis.
 
Oram battled through eight innings, scattering 13 hits while keeping Pacific's offense in check after the fifth. The Wildcats' defense turned three double plays behind him.
 
Linfield threatened in the eighth, putting two runners on, but Pacific reliever William Merriott forced a flyout to end the inning. The Wildcats again put the go-ahead run in scoring position in the ninth but couldn't break through.
 
The Boxers made them pay in the bottom half. After Gibbs singled and Lewis was hit by a pitch, Vincent Lagatta lined a pitch into left field, scoring Gibbs to send Pacific to the winner's bracket.
 
NEXT
Linfield plays an elimination game Friday at 10 a.m. against Whitworth, which fell 7-6 in 11 innings to Puget Sound in Thursday's other opening-round game. The Wildcats must win three straight games to keep their season alive and secure the NWC Tournament title.
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