McMINNVILLE, Oregon – Makana Murashige belted a grand slam in the seventh inning, but the Puget Sound baseball team lost the final game of its series at Linfield, 8-7, Sunday afternoon.
 
The Wildcats (3-6, 1-2 NWC) held a 2-1 lead entering the fifth inning, but a two-run double by Dylan Joyce gave Puget Sound (5-5, 2-1 NWC) its first lead of the game.
 
That lead was short-lived when Linfield struck for two runs in the bottom of the fifth. The Wildcats took control when they tacked on three more runs in the sixth inning to take a 7-3 lead.
 
Shane Himeda led off the top of the seventh inning with a double, and he moved up 90 feet on a groundout by Mitch Nabeta. Two batters later, Kyle Strash drew a walk, and Joyce drew a free pass of his own to load the bases.
 
Murashige took advantage of the opportunity, and he tied the game with one swing. The grand slam was his first-career collegiate home run.
 
Although momentum shifted to the Loggers' favor, Linfield plated the game-winning run in the eighth inning.
 
Puget Sound starting pitcher Davis Miller allowed just one earned run in four innings, and he induced eight groundouts.
 
Puget Sound continues its Northwest Conference season at home against Pacific, Feb. 26-27.