Linfield Hits, Pitches Past Boxers In NWC Season Openers
Game 1 Box Score |
Game 2 Box Score
McMINNVILLE, Ore. – A combination of solid pitching and outstanding offense allowed Linfield to take the first two games of the Northwest Conference baseball season Saturday, sweeping a doubleheader from Pacific at Roy Helser Field.
In the opener, Linfield starter Haddeland allowed the Boxers just four hits while the Wildcats cranked out 13, including a 5 for 5 performance from Jake Wylie, to score the 10-2 win in the opener. Pacific's offense improved in the second game, but three runs over the first two innings for the Wildcats proved enough for the 6-1 win.
Linfield, ranked No. 22 in the latest ABCA Division III national poll, improved to 9-1 overall. Pacific continued to look for its first win of the season, dropping to 0-8.
GAME 1: LINFIELD 10, PACIFIC 2
With Pacific ace
Rob Dittrick (Sr., Mililani, Hawaii) on the hill, Linfield used small ball to pick up the game's initial run in the first. Tim Wilson walked to lead off the frame, advanced to second on a ground out and scored when Wylie singled up the middle with two out.
Meanwhile, Haddeland had a no hitter through four innings before the Boxers broke through in the fifth.
Nick Tasaka (Sr., Hawaii Kai, Hawaii) drew a lead-off walk and moved to second when
Michael Arakaki (Sr., Mililani, Hawaii) reached on an error.
Logan Moen (Sr., Brier, Wash.) sacrificed both runners over 90 feet and
Dan Jaffe (Jr., Las Vegas, Nev.) executed the perfect squeeze bunt to score Tasaka.
Charlie Gaff (Fr., Stockton, Calif.) broke up the no-hit bid on the next at bat, singling up the middle to score Arakaki and give the Boxers the 2-1 lead.
Linfield hammered the rest of the way, scoring seven runs in the final four innings while limiting Pacific to just three hits. After Cory VanDomelen reached on a leadoff error to open the sixth, Wylie tied the game with his single to center field. Clayton Truex gave Linfield the lead for good when his fielder's choice plated Wylie.
Fisher reached on an error to start the Wildcats' three-run seventh, with VanDomelen and Wylie hitting RBI singles and Kramer Lindell scoring one on a sacrifice fly. Truex led off the Wildcats' four-run eighth with a solo home run to left. After loading the bases with two singles and a walk, Wylie cleared them all with his two-run double to left center field. A third run scored on the play thanks to the Boxers' third error of the game.
Haddeland went the distance to earn his second win of the season, allowing two unearned runs on four hits with three walks and eight strikeouts. Dittrick took the loss in his first decision of the year in three appearances, allowing six runs, two earned, on nine hits with a walk and three strikeouts is seven innings. Wylie's 5 for 5 effort with five RBIs paced the Wildcats.
GAME 2: LINFIELD 6, PACIFIC 1
Pacific saw some better offensive production in the second game, getting seven hits off of Linfield starter Aaron Thomassen and a pair of two-hit performances from Moen and
Donnie Bradley (So., Beaverton, Ore.). But the Boxers left a total of 13 men on base as they dropped their eighth in a row.
The Linfield offense picked up where they left off at the end of the first game, scoring three runs in the first two innings. Wilson and VanDomelen opened the first inning with singles. Nate McClellan sacrificed home Wilson for the game's first run and Wylie scored VanDomelen with a double down the right field line. Nick Fisher made it a 3-0 Wildcats' lead in the second with a solo homer to left field.
Tasaka led off the Pacific third with a double to left, only to watch the next two batters hit into fly outs. Arakaki's sharp hit infield single allowed Tasaka to advance to third and Bradley followed for the RBI single that resulted in the Boxers' lone run of the game.
Linfield added two in the fourth with the aid of just one hit. Fisher and Chance Laboda each reached on walks while Wilson got on with a fielder's choice. Van Domelen followed with a single up the middle that scored Fisher from third and Wilson from first. The Wildcats added one more when Fisher singled up the middle to score Jordan Harlow.
Thomassen picked up his third win of the season for Linfield, allowing the one run on seven hits with two walks and a strikeout in seven innings. Justin Huckins picked up the three-inning save.
Matt Delegato (Sr., Hillsboro, Ore.) took the loss for the Boxers, allowing five runs on eight hits with four walks in six innings of work. VanDomelen led the way for Linfield, going 3 for 4 with a run and two RBIs.
Pacific and Linfield will conclude their three-game series with a single game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
