McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield baseball (12-4, 7-2 NWC) earned their first series sweep of the Pacific Boxers (5-13, 2-4 NWC) on Sunday afternoon, coming from behind with a three-run eighth inning to win 6-3.
 
Linfield starter Casey Struckmeier sat down the first three batters of the game, helping tow the line from the success the pitching staff had on the mound in yesterday's doubleheader. Struckmeier allowed two singles to begin the second, later loading the bases, but escaping by pitching to contact. 
 
Wyatt McClory got the Wildcats first hit of the game in the second, where Linfield would also load the bases but come up empty with a groundout to end the inning. For the third-straight game of the series, Pacific struck first, hitting a solo home run in the top of the fourth. 
 
Linfield wouldn't trail for long, loading the bags with nobody out in the bottom of the fourth. Rylan Gulard walked to bring the tying run across. Ely Kennel brought home another with a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left, putting the 'Cats up 2-1 through four.
 
The Boxers answered the call, plating two runs to take the lead back in the next inning. Struckmeier's outing was done after three and two-third innings, calling left-hander Jacob Bishop out of the pen to get the third out on one pitch.
 
The Wildcats took multiple free bases in the fifth, although McClory was cut down trying to score on a Boxers wild pitch. Gulard worked his second bases-loaded walk of the game to tie it up at 3-3 through five.
 
Both bullpens maintained the knotted score over the next two innings, where Luke Schoeffler came out of the Linfield bullpen to relieve Bishop who got into trouble in the eighth. Schoeffler halted the Boxers momentum, sending it to the home half of the inning. Jaxson Kister led off with a single to center, followed by a Kennel hit by pitch. Cole Snidow singled on a bunt to the pitcher, loading the bases with no outs. With one down, Nick Holm hit a ground ball up the middle, plating two go-ahead runs. Josh Mansur brought in a third with a sacrifice bunt down the first base line.
 
Schoeffler went 1-2-3 in the top of the ninth to earn Linfield the series sweep over Pacific, their first since the 2017 season, his second relief win of the season. 
 
"Sweeps in this conference are huge, one way or the other, the conference is so competitive." Said head coach Jordan Harlow following Sunday's sweep.
 
"[I'm] happy with the way the guys competed and fought. They've shown that, they have a ton of grit, they don't lay down, they just stay in it. The pitching staff this weekend was great, they kept us in it and gave the offense a chance to get going, we executed when we needed to. Those guys [Zack Hampson and Colton Ouelette] did a great job in stretching those late innings for us this series, pounding the zone, and not giving up free bases."
 
Holm's clutch hit earned him a team-high two runs batted in, tied with Gulard who's two bases-loaded walks brought in a pair. Mansur had the best day at the dish though. Going 2-2 with two walks, a run, one RBI and two stolen bases. Schoeffler's 1.1 innings earned him his second win of the season, although both Struckmeier and Bishops were effective in keeping the 'Cats close throughout. 
 
Baseball now prepares for their toughest matchup of the season next weekend, hosting No. 1 ranked Denison for a three-game non-conference series from Thursday to Saturday at Roy Helser Field. 
 
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. 
 
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