LA VERNE, Calif. --- Linfield baseball (5-2) battled back to split the four-game series at La Verne (2-3), scoring four runs in the eleventh inning to win the series finale, 9-5.
 
The Wildcats struck first with a two-out rally in the first frame, Cole Snidow scored Jaxson Kister who reached on a bunt single, later scoring himself after a Leopards wild pitch. Wyatt Hurley navigated through three walks in his first inning of work, stranding the bases loaded.
 
Linfield tacked on another with a sacrifice bunt, scoring Jackson Bui who worked a leadoff walk. Hurley walked two more batters in the second, once again escaping without damage, but his outing was done after two innings, relieved by Luke Schoeffler on the mound. 
 
La Verne got on the board in the home fifth, scoring two runs on four singles. The Leopards then tied the game up in the sixth, Brian Mannion walked the first batter he faced, coming around to score on a two-out single. The hosts made it five unanswered in the bottom of the seventh, grabbing a 5-3 advantage.
 
In the eighth inning, the 'Cats bats came alive again, with Snidow reaching on a leadoff walk, later scoring on a wild pitch. With two outs, Nick Holm singled through the right side, scoring Wyatt McClory to tie the game up, 5-5.
 
Zack Hampson pitched the rest of the game on the mound, allowing three hits over 2.2 innings to send the game to extras. In the top of the 11^th, Rylan Gulard hit a one-out single and Kister was hit by a pitch. The two 'Cats scored on a Hurley double to right center. Snidow followed suit with a double of his own to score Hurley. With the bases loaded, Bui drove in an insurance run to put the 'Cats up 9-5 heading into the home half.
 
Hampson escaped two singles to begin the inning, sitting down the next three batters in a row to earn his second win of the early season.

"The guys showed a ton of grit this weekend after some ups and downs." Said head coach Jordan Harlow.

"we had multiple contributors in many different areas this weekend, which is a positive for us."
 
Snidow went 3-6 at the plate, scoring three times and driving in a pair, one to start the game, and one to finish it. Hurley opened the game with two innings on the bump, but also drove in two crucial runs to give Linfield the lead in the eleventh.
 
Hampson moves to 2-0 on the season, with yet another gutsy four and two-thirds outing to finish the game, allowing no runs on five hits and two strikeouts. 
 
Baseball is set for their first Northwest Conference series next weekend, taking on George Fox in a three-game series beginning on Saturday at 11 a.m. in Newberg, Oregon.
 
To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com. 
 
  Read Full Article