KEIZER, Ore. – Linfield baseball (9-4, 4-2 NWC) won their second Northwest Conference series on Sunday, downing the Willamette Bearcats (3-6, 2-4 NWC), 11-6.
 
Ely Kennel notched the first hit of the game with two outs in the first, part of both team's scattering two hits in the first three innings of a scoreless stretch. Each team entered Sunday aiming to claim the series after splitting Saturday's doubleheader at Volcanos Stadium in Keizer, Oregon.
 
Kennel paired up with Cole Snidow and Nick Holm to open the fourth with three consecutive singles, loading the bags for Jackson Bui. Bui grounded into a double play, but scored Kennel to take a 1-0 lead.
 
Linfield piled on an inning later, as Wyatt McClory's single brought home Cole Hubka. Jaxson Kister then doubled to left center, scoring McClory with one out. Kennel's strong day at the plate continued, singling to right to make it 4-0 Wildcats in the fifth.
 
Willamette got on the board in the home fifth with a two-out single to plate one. An error by Linfield in the home sixth scored a second Bearcat run, cutting the hosts closer at 4-2.
 
After the game began scoreless, the offense came through late in the game to add insurance runs for the Wildcats. Holm's two-out single scored one before Bui homered to right, scoring three more to extend the lead out to 8-2. Just as Linfield pulled away, Willamette matched with four runs of their own in the seventh, knocking reliever Wyatt Hurley out of the game.
 
Kennel plated two runs in the top of the eighth with a single to left, executing at the plate after Willamette helped Linfield load the bases with nobody out. Spencer Kowalski joined in with a solo shot in the top of the ninth frame, lifting Linfield to an 11-6 win and second series win of conference play. 
 
A strong five-inning start from Casey Struckmeier proved crucial for Linfield to take the series-decider on Sunday, earning his first win of the season. Struckmeier allowed just one run on four hits, striking out two and walking one.
 
Offense carried the 'Cats to another series win, with Bui and Kennel each driving in three and combining for six of the team's 18 hits on Sunday. Kister also went 2-4 at the plate, both hits garnering extra bases with a double and a triple. Most notably, Linfield's 11 runs on 18 hits also featured just one strikeout and three walks.
 
The 'Cats are back home after nearly a month on the road, hosting their first NWC series at Roy Helser Field next weekend against Pacific, beginning on Saturday at Noon.
 
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