McMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Linfield baseball (12-6, 7-2 NWC) fell behind early in game two of the three-game set against No. 1-ranked Denison (13-1), coming up short 6-1.
 
Denison got to work on the very first pitch of the game from Linfield starter Matthew Tacheny, sending a ball over the left field fence for a solo home run. Two batters later, the Big Red sent another ball to straightaway center for a two-run shot, grabbing a quick 3-0 lead; although Tacheny struck out two of the three outs to end the inning. 
 
Tacheny allowed another run in the third, a solo shot to right center that extended the Denison lead to 4-0. Cole Hubka found the Wildcats first hit of the game in the home third with a single up the middle. 
 
A Denison double led to a fifth run that scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth inning, ending Tacheny's outing at the conclusion of the frame. Reliever Luke Schoeffler came in on the mound in the sixth.
 
Schoeffler struck out the first batter he faced, but then allowed a double and a single to put the Big Red up 6-0. He stranded two runners in scoring position to end the inning with minimal damage, getting Denison to ground out to first. 
 
Jaxson Kister ripped a two-out double down the left field line, but was stranded to end the sixth before Linfield could get on the board. Jacob Bishop pitched two-thirds of the seventh inning in relief before Wyatt Hurley came in to end the inning.
 
Garret Ringer led off the eighth by wearing a ball on a full count, advancing to second before scoring on a single off the bat of Ely Kennel, ending Denison's shutout.
 
The score remained 6-1 to end the game as Linfield's last five batters struck out, earning the top-ranked Big Red the series win.
 
Kister went 2-4 at the plate with a walk and the 'Cats only extra-base hit, while Kennel had a 1-2 showing, working a walk, hit by pitch and driving in the one run with a single in the eighth. Linfield totaled six hits, stranding seven runner on base. Starter Matthew Tacheny was credited with the loss after five runs on seven hits over five innings, sitting down four. 
 
Baseball wraps up the series against the Big Red tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Roy Helser Field. 
 
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