MCMINNVILLE, Ore.—Linfield used strong pitching to defeat Whitworth 10-1 in a Northwest Conference baseball game on Sunday to avoid a series sweep to the Pirates.
The Wildcats improve to 5-8 on the season and 3-4 in conference play. With the loss, the Pirates fall to 4-12 and a 3-2 record in NWC play.
Whitworth scored its only run in the first inning when Gage Gibson singled, moved to second on a Dawson Warner sacrifice bunt, and then scored on a Jaxsen Sweum double.
Linfield scored four runs in the second inning. A walk and hit by pitch put two runners on, and a single scored Daniel Kahn from second. A Mike Lavigne single scored another run, and an Austin Rice balk scored Tanner Jaques to make the score 3-1. Lavigne scored on a single, but Rice struck out the last batter of the inning to leave two more runners stranded.
Josh Grimes entered the game to pitch in the third inning, and gave up a single by Ryan Kamp, who advanced to third on a Kahn single and scored on a fielder's choice.
Branden Pasion doubled to left field early in the fourth inning and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a sacrifice fly for a commanding 6-1 lead.
The Wildcats didn't score again until the seventh inning when a Body Smith single kicked off the inning and prompted a pitching change for the Pirates. Hudson Andrews entered the game and recorded two straight outs, but then walked Kahn, setting up back-to-back RBI singles. A Lavigne double drove in two more runs for the final score of 10-1.
Austin Rice (0-4) picked up his fourth pitching loss of the season, giving up four earned runs on four hits in two innings.
John Over (1-1) picked up his first pitching win of the season, allowing only one run on seven hits in 6.2 innings. Skyler Manelski and Colton Meyer combined for 2.1 scoreless relief innings.
Whitworth hopes to continue gaining ground in the NWC next weekend at home against Pacific (Ore.) in a Saturday doubleheader at noon and 3pm, and Sunday at noon.
