NWC Baseball: Home Runs Lead Linfield to Victory

Linfield completes its three-game series with Lewis & Clark at 1:00 PM Sunday at Roy Helser Field.

Shannon Chung was 3 for 5, 4 RBIs in Game 2. Photo: Linfield Athletics

PORTLAND - Brian Clark had a complete-game shutout in the first game and the Linfield bats came alive for 19 hits in the second game as the Wildcats swept visiting Lewis & Clark 3-0 and 15-1 on Saturday at Roy Helser Field in a Northwest Conference doubleheader.

The wins improved Linfield to 12-10 overall, 6-4 in conference play.

Lewis & Clark dropped to 8-14, 7-9 in conference.

GAME 1

Linfield got on the board first, picking up two runs in the fourth inning.

After Kevin Mills reached base on a throwing error, he advanced to second on Stew Davis’ ground ball, and to third on Drew Van Cleave’s fly out to left field.

Then Brian Kerr doubled to the left field fence to bring in Mills for the first run of the game. And Rhett Fenton followed with another double to score Kerr.

The Wildcats picked up another run in the seventh when Austin Highberger scored from second on a throwing error by Lewis & Clark shortstop Jordan Shibata.

Mills grounded out with runners at the corners to end the inning.

Brian Clark had his best start of the season for the Wildcats, improving to 3-3 on the season with a complete game shutout.

He struck out seven, allowed no walks, and scattered 10 hits. The Pioneers left 10 runners on base.

He worked his way out of danger in the eighth and ninth innings.

In eighth, the Pioneers had runners on second and third with one out. Clark struck out Mike Giardina and Corey Lowell in succession to get out of the jam.

Then in the ninth, A.J. Brown and Neal Finch hit back-to-back singles to start the inning. But third baseman David Bachofner, who came off the bench, stopped a sharp grounder by Joe Rios.

He stepped on third for a force out and then fired to Jordan Boustead for a double play. Bachofner made another play and throw to second for the final out of the game.

Jordon Smiley (1-5) took the loss, allowing six hits in eight innings.

GAME 2

The fourth inning became a home run derby for Linfield, as Caleb Kearns and Cory Ellis hit back-to-back shots to left field and Fenton later hit one to left center.

For all three, the home runs were the first of the season and came against Lewis & Clark starter Eric Maroncelli.

Linfield entered the game with just six home runs collectively on the season.

After Kearns hit his homer to give Linfield a 6-1 lead, Ellis hit one on the very next pitch.

Stew Davis followed with a double and Fenton unloaded with the third home run of the inning to make it 9-1.

The Wildcats picked up another run in the fifth when Ellis hit a ground ball past the glove of the first baseman and reached second.

Shannon Chung drove him in with a single to make it 10-1.

Linfield began to break the game open in the second inning, beginning with Brian Kerr’s lead-off single and stolen base to set the table.

Kearns and Ellis both singled to load the bases and then Shannon Chung slapped a two-run single.

Mills then scorched a single up the middle that brought Ellis in from second.

A wild pitch brought in Chung for the fourth run on the inning and lifted the Wildcats to a 5-1 lead.

Lewis & Clark scored one run and could have had more in the second.

The Pioneers had the bases loaded with one out when Sam Marthinsen hit a single that brought in Corey Lowell but Mills made a good throw from center to get Mike Giardina at the plate.

Cameron Larson went six innings to pick up the victory, improving him to 5-1. He allowed six hits and struck out three.

Chung finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs and Kearns was 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Ellis scored four times and was 2-for-3 at the plate.

NEXT UP: Linfield completes its three-game series with Lewis & Clark at 1:00 PM Sunday at Roy Helser Field.

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