McMINNVILLE, Ore. – In the second meeting of the season between the NCAA Division III leader in wins and the 2013 National Pitcher of the Year, it was Linfield College's Chris Haddeland reversing the previous outcome with a 5-1 win over George Fox University's Clay Gartner in a non-conference baseball game Friday afternoon here at Roy Helser Field.
The Bruins' Gartner, the national leader in wins with a 10-1 record coming in, had bested the Wildcats' Haddeland two weeks ago 4-1 in a Northwest Conference game in Newberg, handing the ace of the defending national champions his first loss in almost two years. It was not to be the second time around, however.
After matching zeroes for three innings, the Wildcats broke through against Gartner (10-2) in the 4th. Nick Fisher drew a lead-off walked and Jake Wylie reached on an infield single that hit the third-base bag and bounced high into left field. Fisher reached third on the play, and Wylie advanced to second as shortstop Zac Israel picked up the ball in the outfield and tried to make a play at third. Clayton Truex and Kramer Lindell followed with deep sacrifice flies to right.
The Bruins cut the deficit in half in the top of the 5th. Kadyn Nannini dropped a one-out single into left, and after Matt Zeller sacrificed him to second, he scored on Derek Blankenship's single to center.
The Wildcats responded with two more runs in the home half. Kenny Johnson walked, was sacrificed to second, and scored on Cory VanDomelen's single to center, and back-to-back singles by Wylie and Truex plated VanDomelen. Jo Carroll lined his second home run of the season to right leading off the 6th to end the scoring.
Gartner finished with six innings of work, allowing six hits and five earned runs with three strikeouts and an uncharacteristic four walks. Ian Buckles and Connor Harris finished up with one scoreless inning apiece.
Haddeland (10-1) went the distance, scattering five hits with five strikeouts and a walk and retiring the last seven hitters of the game. Nannini had two hits for the Bruins and also drew the only walk. Wylie and Truex had two hits each for the Wildcats.
NEXT: George Fox (27-12) concludes its regular season Sunday, hosting Linfield at 3:30 p.m. If rain makes the Bruins' Morse Field unplayable, the game may move to Linfield's artificial-turf field … The Bruins' fourth annual Alumni Game is set for 11:00 a.m. Sunday before the varsity game, weather permitting … Linfield (33-4) hosts Lewis-Clark State College Saturday in a doubleheader at 12:00 noon.