Baseball: Wildcats Take First Two From Missionaries at Linfield
McMINNVILLE, Ore. – A two-run bottom of the eighth broke a 1-1 tie and gave Linfield a 3-1 victory over the Missionaries at Roy Helser field this afternoon, to complete a doubleheader sweep, after winning the opener 13-1. The tough loss dropped Whitman to 2-6 in conference and 7 -11 overall. The Wildcats improve to 7-1 (1st place) in the NWC, and 14 – 3 on the year.
Spencer Hobson, So.
Whitman starter Spencer Hobson (So., Black Diamon, WA) kept the Missionaries in the game, giving up just one earned run over 6 and 2/3rds, while fanning two. He did give up 6 walks and left the mound after throwing 103 pitches. Hobson and Linfield starter Aaron Thomassen were locked in a scoreless pitching duel until the 7th when the Wildcats pushed over a run and Hobson was forced from the game.
After recording the first out, Hobson gave up a double to Clayton Truex who was, then, replaced by a pinch runner. Hobson then gave up three walks to plate Eric Lawson who had come in to run the bases for Truex.
Robert Maislen (Fy., Houston, TX) came in from the bullpen and closed out the inning to cap the damage at just one run.
Aaron Cohen, Jr.
The Whits struck back in the top of the 8th playing a little “small ball.” Jonny Chow (So., Keaau, HI) led off with a four-pitch walk and was sacrifice bunted to second by Kyle Buckham (Jr., Bellingham, WA). After Ozzy Braff (Fy., Palo Alto, CA) went down swinging, Aaron Cohen (Jr., Juneau, AK)delivered a run-scoring double to right center. With the go-ahead run in scoring position, Kyle Moyes (Jr., Henderson, NV) flied out to center after working the count to 3-2.
Maislen stayed in the game and walked the lead-off man Jake Wylie in the bottom frame. He would walk another while also recording two outs. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Jordan Harlow struck the damaging blow with a 2-run single through the right side of the infield to give Linfield a 3-1 advantage. The Missionaries went in order in the 9th.
The outcome of Game 1 was determined early as the Wildcats pushed across runs in four straight innings, beginning with one in the 2nd and finishing with seven in the 5th, providing Linfield with an 11-0 lead. Three pitchers, led by starter Chris Haddeland silenced the Whitman bats, only giving up 6 hits over 9 complete.
The two teams hook-up for the series finale tomorrow – a 12 pm starting time.
Box Scores:
Contact:
Andrew Holt
Whitman Sports Information Director
509.527.5902
345 Boyer Ave.