McMINNVILLE, Ore. – With first place in the Northwest Conference riding on the outcome, Linfield and Puget Sound each secured victories to split a doubleheader Saturday at the Roy Helser Field. The Loggers overcame a 2-1 deficit to take the opener 7-4 before the defending champion Wildcats rebounded for a convincing 12-6 victory in the nightcap.

As each team claimed one win, little was resolved in the NWC title chase. Puget Sound (11-9, 9-2 NWC) remained percentage points ahead of Linfield (17-6, 11-3 NWC).

First-year Wildcats Tim Wilson (Jr., Redmond, Wash.) and Nate McClellan (Jr., Shoreline, Wash.) each had six hits to pace the No. 8 Wildcats at the plate.

Dakota Resnik had four hits in the twinbill to carry the Loggers.

GAME 1
Linfield scored a pair of runs in the first inning and carried a tenuous 2-1 lead into the eighth. That’s when the Loggers erupted for six runs to put the game away. A run-scoring double by Matt Cox got Puget Sound rolling, followed by RBIs from Chaz Kramer and Andrew Grady. Resnick’s two-out, two-run double applied the finishing touches.

Cole Bixenman gave the Wildcats the opportunity for a late rally, hitting his fifth home run of the season with one out in the eighth. Dustin Smith later drew Linfield within three runs, 7-4, with a RBI single in the ninth.

Wilson, playing second base in place of an ill Eric Evenson, went 3-for-3, including a double.

UPS starter Matt Robinson spread out 10 hits across 7 1/3 innings to collect the victory and improve to 5-1.

Linfield ace Ryan Larson absorbed his first defeat of 2011. Larson pitched 7 2/3 innings, striking out six Loggers while allowing seven hits, five earned runs and a pair of walks.

GAME 2
Linfield spotted Puget Sound two runs in the first before ramping up its offense for 12 runs in the opening three frames.

Wilson had three more hits and Bixenman drove in three runs. Adding multiple hits for the Wildcats were McClellan, Kevin Allan and Kevin Coleman.

Linfield starter Robert Vaughn improved to 6-1 for the season, striking out seven batters while scattering four hits over six innings.

The Loggers plated four runs over the final three stanzas to make the score respectable.

Linfield had only a slight edge in hits, 13-11, but the Loggers committed a pair of errors and stranded nine runners.

Addison Melzer was 2-for-4 with a couple of RBIs to pace UPS offensively.

NEXT: The three-game series wraps up Sunday with a single game starting at noon.