McMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Linfield baseball (12-7) hung with top-ranked Denison (14-1) for eight innings in the series finale on Saturday afternoon, falling 2-1 after the Big Red scored one in the ninth.
 
Outfielder Jaxson Kister notched the first hit of the game in the home first with a double to left, aiming to help Linfield try to get a win over the No. 1-ranked Big Red. The Wildcats then stranded two runners in scoring position an inning later, also unable to find the clutch hit to get a run on the board. 
 
Starter Casey Struckmeier navigated the first three innings with little stress, but his one blemish came in the fourth, allowing a leadoff home run to right field to put Denison up 1-0. Linfield had at least one runner on base in four of the first five innings, finally breaking through in the sixth when Denison changed pitchers. 
 
Cole Snidow led off with a single before two quick outs followed. But Hubka drove in Austin Gonia who pinch ran for Snidow, tying the game at 1-1. Linfield loaded the bases during the two-out rally, unable to tack on further.
 
Both bullpens were shutdown in the next two innings, allowing just one hit between both dugouts. Denison got to reliever Colton Ouellette in the top of the ninth, as the leadoff batter reached on an error, later scoring on a single to right field to go up 2-1. 
 
Kister had a two-out single in the bottom of the ninth, but it was too-little, too-late, as the Big Red would capture the series sweep, 2-1 in game three. 
 
"I'm really proud of the guys, knowing who Denison is, they're a very good team and very well coached." Said head coach Jordan Harlow following the series.
 
"To play three games where two of the three we're in the game in the ninth inning, is kind-of what you ask for. We played really good defense, our pitchers we outstanding. Denison averages nearly 11 runs per game, and we allowed basically an average of five in this series; very proud of the effort, regardless of the result."
 
"The whole staff, Colton Ouelette and all the guys in relief did really great. Even [Matthew] Tacheny did what a good veteran does and settled in after a rocky first inning yesterday to give us a chance. Against a team like that, just to put yourself in a position to try to win the game, that's a good thing."
 
Linfield stranded 11 runners on base, although shortstop Cole Hubka drove in the team's sole run, going 1-4 at the plate. Nick Holm and Jaxson Kister each had a pair of hits, part of the Wildcat's eight for the game. Starter Casey Struckmeier threw four strong innings, striking out four, allowing just one run on four hits. Ouellette was credited with his second loss of the season, allowing only one run on one hit over two and two-thirds innings in relief. 
 
Baseball hosts LeTourneau for a four-game non-conference series at Roy Helser Field next Friday and Saturday, set for back-to-back doubleheaders over spring break.
 
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