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.