Grant Lucas
Linfield baseball’s hope for winning another Northwest Conference championship was destroyed by 16th-ranked George Fox University on April 26.
The Bruins opened up a 4-1 lead through three innings with help from senior infielder Pat Bailey, who drove in two runs in the first with a single.
In the top of the sixth, Wildcat sophomores Eric Evenson and Dustin Smith smacked back-to-back singles, placing runners on the corners. Sophomore catcher Cole Bixenman then drove in Evenson with a sacrifice fly.
Junior pitcher Garrett Dorn came in for relief, holding the Bruins scoreless from the fourth until the seventh.
The ’Cats strung a rally together in the eighth, beginning with singles by junior Tyson Smith and Evenson. After a Bixenman double to bring Linfield within a run, Evenson scored on a wild pitch by senior pitcher Matt Wyckoff.
Bruins junior Chad Jones contributed a one-out double in the eighth followed by a single by junior Brent Trask. George Fox snatched the lead for good with a line drive single by sophomore Taylor Hunter.
The loss eliminated Linfield’s opportunity to repeat as NWC champions.
In the second game, the Wildcats exploded for four runs in the third inning before an out was recorded. Senior Stew Davis drove in Dustin Smith with a double, which was followed by a three-run blast by freshman Zach Boskovich, giving the ’Cats a five-run lead.
After exchanging runs in the fifth and sixth innings, George Fox tallied four runs in the seventh, trimming the Wildcat lead to one run.
In the bottom of the ninth, Wildcat freshman Andy Hunthausen was called in to pitch. With two on and two out, Hunthausen drew a groundout, sealing the victory for the ’Cats.
In the first game April 26, George Fox took a 1-0 lead into the sixth inning. After Trask was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base, senior Kyle Kuenzi drove him in with a single. Soon after, Wyckoff hit a two-run home run to give the Bruins a 4-0 lead.
Junior Tyson Smith, Evenson and Boskovich each contributed with hits, but the Wildcats missed opportunities, and they stranded eight runners on base, leaving the bases loaded twice.
Linfield scored runs in each of the first three innings in the second game, building a 3-2 lead.
The margin held until the sixth inning when Bruin junior Bo Thunell drove the first pitch of the inning over the centerfield wall. Bailey continued the inning with a double, later advancing to third on a sacrifice fly.
After junior Seth Anderson drew an intentional walk, a ground ball by senior Todd Siler skipped over a Wildcat glove, allowing Bailey to score. One more run was brought in, securing a 5-3 win.
Bixenman and Tyson Smith led the way for Linfield, each tallying two hits and an RBI.
The wins gave George Fox a share of the NWC crown with Pacific Lutheran University. Linfield fell to a 28-12 record overall and a 22-10 NWC record while ending the season in third place.