Box Score McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
After sweeping Linfield College in their three-game Northwest
Conference series two weeks ago, the George Fox University Bruins
were unable to make it four in a row over their Yamhill County
rivals as the Wildcats prevailed 8-0 in the final game of the
Linfield Baseball Tournament Sunday afternoon here at Roy Helser
Field.
The Wildcats jumped on top with an unearned run in the bottom of
the 3rd. Ryan Larson drew a one-out walk and Kenny Johnson
beat out a sacrifice bunt attempt to third for an infield
hit. Bruin third sacker Danny Clifford threw the ball down
the right-field line, allowing both runners to advance to second
and third, and Larson scored on Jordan Harlow's ground out to
second.
Linfield added two more runs in the 5th. A single up the
middle by Johnson, a sacrifice by Harlow, and a double to left by
Wilson plated one run, and Nate McClellan made it 3-0 with a double
to left-center to drive in Wilson.
Taylor Hill (4-4) went the first five innings for the Bruins,
allowing nine hits and three runs, two earned, with a walk and a
strikeout. Alex Kennan relieved him in the 6th and was
greeted with a home run blast to left by Kramer Lindell, his
seventh of the season, on the first pitch that made it 4-0.
The Wildcats blew the game open in the 8th as Danny Urness drove in
Kyle Chamberlain with a sacrifice fly to left, Lindell scored on a
wild pitch by reliever Connor Harris, and Harlow delivered a
two-run single.
Linfield starter Robert Vaughn (3-4) was touched for a hit in
each of the first three innings, including a double by Timothy
Williams in the second, but fanned seven through the first four
innings to prevent any damage. The Bruins put the first two
runners on in the 6th as David Greenstein walked
and Taylor Hunter singled to center, but the Wildcats escaped with
a 1-6-3 double play and a ground out.
Vaughn stranded two more runners in the 7th and Greenstein at
third with one out in the 8th before being relieved with one out
and one on in the 9th. Jacob Nolte and Spencer Crepeaux, a
pair of Linfield seniors, each got one out to finish up the
shutout. Vaughn finished with six hits allowed, nine
strikeouts and three walks in his final game.
Greenstein ended his George Fox career with a 3-for-3
game. Wilson and Lindell had three hits each, with Jonnson
and Harlow, who had three RBIs, collecting two apiece among the
Wildcats' total of 14.
It was the regular season finale for both teams. George
Fox finished the 2012 season with a 20-20 record, avoiding its
first losing season since 1995. Linfield closed its season at
25-15. The Bruins and Wildcats tied for fourth place in the
conference, each with 15-9 league marks.