McMinnville, Ore. — In a nail-biting 12-inning showdown, Puget Sound's baseball team faced off against Linfield University, but ultimately succumbed after three extra innings to fall 6-4, Saturday, on Roy Helser Field. The Loggers fell 8-6 in the first game agaist the Linfield Wildcats.
Game 1: Puget Sound 6, Linfield 8
Puget Sound started with a strong offensive performance, with Jack McCullar's double driving in Makana Murashige, giving the Loggers an early lead. Linfield quickly responded with a barrage of hits, including a two-RBI single by Tyler Marr, and a subsequent RBI single by Wyatt Hurley, taking a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the second inning, Nathan Blocher rallied with a solo homer, narrowing the gap to 3-2. Linfield extended their lead in the third inning with a three-run homer by Hunter Klingelhoffr, bringing the score to 6-2.
Puget Sound fought back in the fourth with a double from Blocher, driving in two runs and closing the gap to 6-4. Linfield continued to add to their lead when Holm hit a two-run homer to extend the score to 8-4.
In the top of the fifth, Puget Sound responded with one run off a single to center field by McCullar followed by another run in the sixth inning, but couldn't close the gap further.
In the final innings, both teams' defenses held strong, with no more runs scored.
In the end, Linfield's early offensive surge proved to be the difference-maker as they secured an 8-6 victory over Puget Sound. McCullar went 3-for-4 at bat and Blocher was 2-for-4 with three RBIs on the day.
Game 2: Puget Sound 4, Linfield 6
Puget Sound started strong in the top of the first with Makana Murashige and Jack McCullar each notching hits, but they couldn't convert, leaving two stranded. Then, in the bottom of the first, Linfield managed to capitalize on a walk and a single, bringing in a run to take an early lead.
The Wildcats doubled their lead in the next inning as Brett Joner flied out to centerfield to bring in one. It wasn't until the third inning that the Loggers bounced back with Murashige launching a clutch homer, bringing in two runs and tying the game up.
Both teams dominated defensively through the middle innings with the both teams leaving four men on base.
In the top fourth ninth inning, with Linfield rallying back to tie the game, Puget Sound showed resilience, reclaiming the lead with two crucial runs after Murashige doubled up the right line to score. Linfield answered back with a solo homer, knotting the score once again and sending the game into extra innings.
The game remained deadlocked until the 12 inning when Aidan Sullivan ignited hope for the Loggers with a single, but they couldn't capitalize, leaving a runner stranded. Linfield seized the opportunity with a walk-off two-run homer, breaking Puget Sound's hearts and clinching the victory.
The Loggers finish out the series tomorrow, Sunday, April 21, at noon on Roy Helser Field.
