McMINNVILLE, Ore. --- George Fox dropped two early leads to the Linfield Wildcats on Saturday, Apr. 9, and fell in both halves of a doubleheader. 

Game One

Sean Wiese lasted seven innings in a no-decision start and struck out five before getting the hook after the seventh inning had finished. Alex Abbott pitched the last frame and was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits and a walk  in the eighth.

It was a pitcher's duel for the majority of the ball game as each side plated two runs in the third and otherwise sped through scoreless frame after scoreless frame. Fox got its runs from a bases-loaded RBI walk by Breyndon Nakamura and a sacrifice fly by Jeremy Sangalang, and in the bottom half Linfield answered back with two RBI singles to tie it again at 2-2.

The Bruins were unable to score again after the third, and Linfield found a way to plate two in the eighth to take the game, 4-2.

Game Two

Travis Miller got the start in game two and lasted five innings in another no-decision start for Fox before the 'Cats got the winning runs from Andrew Sutherland in the sixth inning. Jonathan Stone crafted a one-hit relief appearance over the final two frames.

Noah Meffert broke the school record for single-season stolen bases in teh first inning after swiping second, giving Fox 90 stolen bags on the year. After stranding Meffert at third in the first, Shane White kicked things off with a two-run homer pulled out in left field in the second frame, scoring Spencer Roos in the process, and Linfield answered with a solo shot in the bottom of the second.

Fox pushed the lead back to a pair of runs after an error and an RBI groundout from Tyler Durant in the third, making it a 3-1 ballgame after two and a half innings. Linfield did the rest of the damage, scoring five unanswered late in the game, and finished the sweep of the doubleheader with a 6-3 win in game two.

With Meffert's stolen base in game two, the 2022 squad has set a new single-season record for stolen bases at 90 and counting, erasing the mark set by the 2005 team at 89.

What It Means

The Bruins dip below .500 overall at 17-18 on the year and have lost three straight, while Linfield improves to 16-13 overall.

Up Next

Fox will try to get the final game of the season series against the 'Cats on Sunday, Apr. 10, with a 12:00 pm first pitch.