ORANGE, Calif. – Kramer Lindell (Jr., West Linn, Ore.) hit two home runs for Linfield and Kevin Osaki threw a complete game for Chapman as the teams split a doubleheader on the final day of the four-game series Sunday afternoon at Hart Park.

In the longest game of the season for both teams, the ‘Cats and Panthers took a 2-2 stalemate into the 13th inning. That’s when Lindell’s sixth home run of the year plated two runs, including pinch runner Danny Urness, to give the ‘Cats a 4-2 lead.

Game 1
Kevin Osaki threw a complete game for Chapman (13-19) and four Panthers collected multiple hits in a 6-1 victory over Linfield (21-10, 15-6 NWC) in the first half of the doubleheader.

The ‘Cats threatened early, moving a runner over to third in the first inning, but Osaki escaped the danger with a fly out, leaving runners stranded on the corners.

The door appeared to be wide open for Chapman in the fourth, as a double and a single put runners on second and third with no outs. Linfield starter Zach Brandon (Jr., Cottage Grove, Ore.) maintained his composure, however, and retired the next three Panther batters to preserve the scoreless tie.

An RBI single from Mark Saatzer in the fifth drove Brandon from the game and also gave Chapman the lead, 1-0.

Linfield responded in the sixth when Lindell sent his fifth home run of the season over the center-field fence. His solo blast knotted the score at 1-1. The ‘Cats nearly took the lead on a single from Nate McClellan (Jr., Shoreline, Wash.), but Kyle Chamberlain (Sr., Portland, Ore.) was thrown out at the plate by Panther centerfielder Connor Battaglia.

Chapman manufactured three runs in the seventh, capitalizing on a pair of infield singles and a squeeze play. An RBI single from Steve Greenberg and an error helped the Panthers build their advantage to 4-1.

The home team tacked on two more runs in the eighth, helped by another Linfield error and an RBI hit-by-pitch.

Lindell and Chamberlain each had a pair of hits for the ‘Cats, who left six runners on base in Game 1.

Saatzer went 3-for-5 for Chapman while Troy Newman, Charlie Piro and Battaglia each had a pair of hits.

On the day, Brandon allowed just one earned run but lasted only 4 1/3 innings for the ‘Cats.

Game 2
Lindell’s second home run of the day proved to be the decisive swing of the bat in the top of the 13th, as Justin Huckins (Jr., Bend, Ore.) shut down Chapman in the bottom half of the inning to lead the ‘Cats to a 4-2 win.

Tim Wilson (Jr., Redmond, Wash.) led off the game for the ‘Cats with a base hit to left. After advancing to third on a wild pitch, the Wildcats’ second baseman came around to score on a groundout by Jordan Harlow (Sr., Baker City, Ore.).

Chapman tied the score in the third, as Saatzer smacked an RBI single to left to plate Parr.

The teams then traded blows in the fourth. An RBI double from Chamberlain made the score 2-1, advantage Linfield, for the time being. The Panthers responded in their half with an RBI double from Coggan that tied the score once again.

The next eight innings were pitching-dominated, as Chris Haddeland (Soph., McMinnville, Ore.) and Christian Maietta posted scoreless frames in rapid succession. The two Chris’ eventually turned the ball over to two Justins, who finished the game for their respective teams.

Haddeland went eight innings, allowing two runs on seven hits while striking out eight.

Maietta threw an impressive ten innings for Chapman, allowing just two runs on six hits before turning the ball over to Justin Hanks.

Chapman nearly broke through in the bottom of the eighth, but Zach Boskovich threw out Troy Newman at the plate to keep the score locked at 2-2.

The ‘Cats had a chance of their own in the tenth, but Kenny Johnson (Jr., Federal Way, Wash.) was gunned down from center field trying to score from second on a base hit by Wilson.

Hanks worked into a jam in the 11th, loading the bases by walking Chamberlain and hitting Boskovich with a pitch after Lindell had previously reached on an error. The sophomore right-hander buckled down, however, and struck out the next two batters to end the threat.

After Harlow drew a walk to lead off the 13th, Lindell swung at the first pitch and sent it over the left field fence to give Linfield a 4-2 edge they did not relinquish.

Lindell and Wilson finished the game with two hits each for the ‘Cats.

‘CAT SCRATCH: Linfield has now played in two extended-inning games in 2012, both nonconference contests, while Chapman has played extra innings six times...the Wildcats have extended their streak of consecutive 20-win seasons to 21 years.

AHEAD: The Wildcats take on NWC and Yamhill Country rival George Fox next weekend in the final conference series for both clubs. An unplayable outfield at the Bruins’ home Morse Field has forced the relocation of the contests to the University of Portland’s Joe Etzel Field, with the first pitch of both Saturday’s doubleheader and Sunday’s single game slated for noon.