McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Runs were aplenty in a Northwest Conference matchup Saturday at Roy Helser Field, as No. 4 Linfield scored 21 total runs en route to two victories over visiting Lewis & Clark, 14-5 and 7-1.

The ‘Cats (5-1, 2-0 NWC) ran wild, stealing a combined 10 bases in the double dip against the winless Pioneers (0-10, 0-2 NWC).

Game 1
Linfield took command early, posting a two-run first inning, and rode productive bats the rest of the way. The Wildcats scored in every inning except the third, totaling 14 runs on 13 hits.

Zach Boskovich drove in the first runner in the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. He scored leadoff hitter Tim Wilson (Jr., Redmond, Wash.), who was walked and stole second.

Linfield starter Ryan Larson was solid from the start, retiring the first six batters he faced. But a murmur passed through the crowd in the top of the fifth as a line drive from Nick Lavin caught Larson on his right (pitching) forearm. In the next at-bat, Parker Dane delivered a two-run home run that cut Linfield's lead to 4-2, prompting head coach Scott Brosius to bring Casey Cameron into the game. The move appeared to be precautionary, as Larson’s control was noticeably affected by the injury.

Pioneers starting pitcher Mike Hathaway lost control in the fifth, surrendering hits to two batters, one of which came around to score. Hathaway notched six and a third innings as Lewis & Clark rode his arm deep into the game.

Trouble arose for the ‘Cats in the top of the sixth, as a walk, hit batter, and error loaded the bases for the Pios. Despite giving Lewis & Clark its best scoring opportunity, Robert Vaughn got out of the jam with a strikeout and a groundout to end the inning.

Kramer Lindell (Jr., West Linn, Ore.) started off a Wildcat rally as he led off the sixth with a triple. Boskovich contributed his second RBI of the game, knocking home Lindell with a scorching double over the head of right fielder Andrew Traver. Kyle Chamberlain (Sr., Portland, Ore.) busted the game open, slicing a line drive past Traver that cleared the bases.

Lewis & Clark’s Dane went 3-for-5 and had a double and three RBI to go along with his two-run blast. On the day, he hit 5-for-9 with three extra-base hits.

Game 2
Neither team caught fire to start the second game, as solid pitching from Linfield’s Zach Brandon (Jr., Cottage Grove, Ore.) and Lewis & Clark’s Ryan Strombom stymied both offenses.

Jesse Boustead beat out a grounder to short to lead off the third inning, sparking a two-run rally for the ‘Cats.

Lewis & Clark responded in the fourth after back-to-back singles from Lavin and Dane. A single from Traver contributed to the two-out-rally, but Brandon retired the next batter on a groundout to escape with the damage limited to a single run.

Brandon threw five innings for the ‘Cats, and handed a two-run lead to Chris Haddeland (Soph., McMinnville, Ore.), who threw the final four innings for Linfield to register his first career save.

A slick sliding grab-and-toss by shortstop Michael Hopp (Sr., Portland, Ore.) stifled a rally from the Pioneers in the eighth, keeping the score at 3-1, advantage Linfield.

An RBI double from Boskovich extended the Wildcats’ lead in the eighth, paving the way for three additional Linfield runs in the frame that pushed the score to the final 7-1. On the day, Boskovich hit 4-6 with two doubles, four RBI, and four runs scored.

AHEAD: Linfield looks to complete the sweep against the Pioneers tomorrow at noon as it closes out the first weekend of Northwest Conference play.