McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Eastern Oregon Baseball dropped the series finale Sunday afternoon, falling 16-3 to Linfield University in seven innings. The win for the Wildcats for the Wildcats gave them the series win, 2-1, while the Mountaineers' record for the season now stands at 3-4.
How it Happened
• The Wildcats (2-1) had a strong offensive output, tallying 17 hits in the win, leading to 16 runs scored. EOU managed just five hits and scored three runs, which came in the fourth inning.
• Defensively, both teams played well with just three combined errors on the day. Eastern has two compared to one by Linfield.
• Helping the Wildcats run-rule the Mountaineers was multiple innings of two or more runs scored. Of the six innings on offense, Linfield scored in five of them.
• The opening inning saw Linfield score four runs on a two-out rally. Eastern managed to get back-to-back outs before the Wildcats loaded the bases to set up the scoring run.
• A double to deep center field scored three runs for Linfield to make it 3-0. The next Linfield batter then knocked a single and an EOU fielding error scored the unearned run to make it 4-0.
• Following a scoreless second inning, the Wildcats added three runs to go up 7-0. Three straight hits loaded the bases before a RBI sacrifice fly and a two-RBI single scored the three runs.
• The Mountaineers ended their drought in the fourth scoring a trio of runs.
Carsten Manderbach plated the first run with an RBI double to score
Trevor Curl.
• Linfield made a pitching change and got a second out before Eastern scored two runs.
Dane Kelsey drew a walk and
Ethan Snodgrass immediately scored him and Manderbach with a two-RBI double to left center.
• The Mountaineers cut the score to 7-3, but the Wildcats answered in the bottom of the fourth scoring two runs to go up six, 9-3. They loaded the bases before a RBI sacrifice fly scored the first run.
• The lead grew to 9-3 for the Wildcats with an RBI's fielder's choice. Eastern held the score to 9-3 in the fourth, but never scored again the rest of the game.
• In the fifth, Linfield exploded for five runs to open up the score to 15-3. A bases loaded error by EOU scored two runs to start to make it 11-3.
• The Wildcats then hit two straight RBI singles to give themselves a 13-3 edge. The final two runs came on a sacrifice fly and a single to put Linfield up by 12.
• Luck fell in the Wildcats favor in the sixth with their final run of the game. A leadoff hit got a runner on and a wild pitch by the Mountaineers ultimately scored the final run of the game.
• Eastern looked to keep the game going in the seventh. They got a leadoff double from Snodgrass but three straight groundouts closed the game out to give Linfield the season opening series win.
Mountaineers Stat Leaders
•
Ethan Snodgrass had 2-3 hitting performance and tallied two RBIs.
•
Carsten Manderbach tallied a hit and scored one run to go along with an RBI.
•
Austin Gerding and
Garret Kollar each tallied a hit in the loss.
•
Trevor Curl scored one run.
•
Davis Brown (1-1) tallied a team best two strikeouts in 2.1 innings pitched as the starter.
For the Wildcats
• Jackson Horner led the way, going 3-4 at the plate with a game-high five RBIs and three runs scored.
• Wyatt Smith went 2-3 with two RBIs.
• Cameron Skinner hit 3-4 in the win with four runs scored and an RBI.
• Mike LaVigne was a perfect 3-3 at the plate and scored four runs to go along with an RBI.
• Nick Alder (1-0) pitched 1.2 innings in the win and had one strikeout.
• Reliever Gage Mack tallied a game best three strikeouts in 1.2 innings pitched.
By the Numbers
3 - Eastern had three doubles hit in Sunday's loss.
26 - The Mountaineers had a season-low 26 at bats in the shortened contest.
9 - EOU tallied nine stolen bases in the three-games series against Linfield.
Up Next
• Eastern will continue its lengthy road swing with a four-game two-day series at Pacific University. The Mountaineers series against the Boxers will be Feb. 12-13, with both days being doubleheader tilts. First pitch will be at 12 p.m. PT both days.
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