MCMINNVILLE, Oregon – Whitman College dropped both games of their double-header Saturday at Linfield College. The Missionaries struggled to score runs in the first game falling 4-1. During game two of the double header, the Wildcats erupted for ten runs, pulling away late.
Whitman (6-22, 5-15 NWC) out hit Linfield (23-9, 13-7 NWC) in both games and accumulated 17 hits over the span of the two games. The Missionaries were unable to bring runners home, stranding 13 base runners during the two afternoon meetings. Senior, Jonny Chow, was the only Whitman player to collect multiple hits in both games, hitting 4-for-8 on the afternoon.
Game one started in a positive note for the Missionaries. Whitman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning and pitcher Robert Maislin allowed just one hit through six innings, but two unearned runs scored in the sixth inning, giving the Wildcats a 2-1 lead. Linfield scored two security runs in the eighth inning pushing the lead to 4-1 and closing the door on Whitman.
The Missionaries showed no quit in a back-and-forth game two. Whitman grabbed a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but in the bottom half of the inning the Missionaries surrendered five runs on four hits. Whitman responded in the fourth inning, collecting three runs and cutting the Linfield lead to just two, 6-4. After scoring two runs in the top of the seventh inning, Whitman found themselves tied with the Wildcats.
Going into the bottom of the eighth inning the game remained tied, 6-6. Linfield started the inning with a base hit, followed by a fly out. After a hit-by-pitch and a walk, the Wildcats had the go ahead run in scoring position with just one out. A double into right field cleared the bases for Linfield and sealed a victory over the Missionaries, 10-6.
Whitman's Anthony Lim and Court Osborn each collected two RBIs in game two of the double header and third baseman Nick Johnson collected the only RBI in game one, scoring Chow in the fourth inning. Maislin threw an outstanding game one, pitching seven innings, giving up two hits and two runs, both of which were unearned.
The Missionaries definitely gave themselves an opportunity to win Saturday, but were unable to deliver in the final innings of both games. Game three of the series will begin Sunday at 12 p.m. in McMinnville. Whitman will look to add a tally to the win column and avoid a three-game sweep to the Wildcats.
