Linfield Bats Start Hot at Arizona Invitational

Kevin Mills went 3 for 5 and scored a run as the Wildcats pounded out 13 hits on six Leopard pitchers.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

ANTHEM, Ariz. - Untested Linfield is off to a 2-0 start following season-opening victories over La Verne and Whittier at the Arizona Invitational.

The Wildcats broke in four new starters, including two young middle infielders.

Linfield center fielder Kevin Mills equaled a single-game record with six runs batted in, and Brian Clark struck out eight batters to lift the Wildcats past La Verne 11-7 on Thursday.

Mills went 3 for 5 and scored a run as the Wildcats pounded out 13 hits on six Leopard pitchers.

Jordan Boustead, Drew Van Cleave and Austin Highberger each added a pair of hits to pace the ‘Cats offensively.

Clark pitched the first 5 2/3 innings, allowing seven hits, seven earned runs and three walks.

Cameron Larson came on in relief of Clark in the sixth, surrendering just two hits the rest of the way.

On Friday, Van Cleave went 4 for 4 with a home run and a triple, helping Linfield erase a 5-2 deficit en route to a 7-6 win over Whittier in 10 innings.

Van Cleave clubbed a home run in the seventh to ignite a four-run inning, giving the Wildcats a 6-5 lead.

The Poets scored a run of their own in the eighth to knot the game.

Second baseman Shannon Chung emerged as the game’s hero, driving Van Cleave in the 10th for the game-winning run.

Southpaw Joshua Guterman scattered 10 hits over 6 1/3 innings before giving way to Matt McCollum in relief.

McCollum, a sophomore seeing his first varsity action, retired four Poets over the final 3 2/3 inning to earn the win.

Wildcats right fielder Stew Davis went 3 for 4 with a pair of RBIs and two runs scored.

Matt Schwartz went the duration on the mound for Whittier, allowing 11 hits to the Wildcats.

NEXT: Linfield meets California Lutheran at 2:00 PM local time Saturday on the third day of action at the Arizona Invitational.

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