McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield baseball (11-4, 6-2 NWC) notched their third Northwest Conference series win on Saturday, taking both in the doubleheader against the Pacific Boxers (5-12, 2-3 NWC). 
 
GAME ONE
Pacific scored first in the opening inning of the series, thanks to two doubles, one with two-outs, to grab a 1-0 advantage. After Linfield was held hitless in the first three innings, the Boxers extended their lead to 3-0 in the fourth with a two-run shot, once again with two outs.
 
Starting shortstop Ely Kennel notched the 'Cats first hit and first run scored in the game, scoring on a Wyatt Hurley two-out single in the home fourth to cut into the deficit.
 
Starter Matthew Tacheny settled in after getting roughed up early in the game to go six innings, moving in line for the win after Linfield's bats woke up in the home sixth. Wyatt McClory and Nick Holm led off with a pair of singles, followed by an Emmett Stein bunt single to load the bases with one away. Jackson Bui drove in one with a single to left, although Holm was cut down at the plate for the second out. Jaxson Kister then doubled to score two runners, and give Linfield their first lead of the game at 4-3. Kennel then reach on an error by Pacific, one of many in the game, scoring another to lead 5-3 through six.
 
Zack Hampson came in for Tacheny to begin the seventh, allowing to Pacific to score one following two quick singles. The 'Cats best reliever through the early season held the lead into the ninth, where Pacific found three-straight singles with one out to tie it up at 5-5.
 
Heading into extras, Hampson escaped by stranding a runner in scoring position, leaving the door open for Linfield to win it in the bottom of the tenth. Pinch-hitter Spencer Kowalski worked a one-out walk, replaced by Austin Gonia on first shortly after. Josh Mansur hit a double to deep right center, scoring the 'Cats speedy runner from first to get a walk-off 6-5 win in the series opener.
 
Mansur's walk-off double helped his 1-2 day at the plate after coming off of the bench in the series opener. Kennel went 2-5 with a run scored, while Kister's early double drove in two of Linfield's five runs. After the strong start by Tacheny was negated in the ninth, reliever Zack Hampson earned his fourth win, moving to 4-0 on the season after two runs on six hits over the final four innings of work. 
 
GAME TWO
Similar to game one, Pacific grabbed an early 1-0 lead in the opening frame thanks to a lead-off double off freshman Johnny Ingalls, making his first start of his collegiate career.
 
The Linfield bats woke back up in the bottom of the second following two quick outs that began the inning. Nick Holm, Caiden Gould and Jevin Patterson each singled in back-to-back-to-back at bats, scoring Mansur who reached on a dropped fly ball as well as Holm who began the rally; 2-1 'Cats.
 
Kennel was hit by a pitch in the third, then used his wheels to steal second, which helped him score on a Wyatt Hurley slap shot down the left field line to extend the lead to 3-1. Ingalls settled into his first career start, although navigating a few walks and a hit batter, nonetheless going five strong innings allowing one run on three hits and two strikeouts. 
 
Colton Ouelette entered from the bullpen in the sixth, facing trouble in each of his four total innings on the mound. In the seventh, Pacific had three batters reach base, but a base running miscue stalled their momentum in the inning. Gould opened the seventh with a single and later scored on a Rylan Gulard single up the middle to add an insurance run, up 4-1.
 
Ouellette escaped once again in the eighth, loading the bags with one out but earning a fly out and a strikeout to leave unharmed. He returned in the ninth with a four-inning save opportunity on the table, stranding two runners with a pair of fly outs to end the game and give Linfield a 4-1 win. The win earned Ingalls his first win of his career, Ouellette his first save and the Wildcats the series over the Boxers.
 
Linfield totaled just six hits in the game against Pacific's starter who threw all eight innings, led by catcher Caiden Gould who went 2-3 for the game. Only three Wildcats struck out in game two, a large piece to Linfield's success early this season, putting the ball in play. 
 
The 'Cats have a shot at their first NWC series sweep of the season tomorrow afternoon, taking on the Boxers in the series finale at Roy Helser Field at 12 p.m.
 
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