McMINNVILLE, Ore. - (From Linfield Sports Information Office) Brian Clark and Garrett Dorn held the Whitworth bats in check Saturday afternoon, allowing Linfield to pick up two wins in the opening day of the four-game Northwest Conference series. The Wildcats won the first game 8-1, then blanked the Pirates in the nightcap 6-0 at sun-splashed Roy Helser Field.

GAME 1
Linfield used two key home runs early and then put together a four-run eighth inning to seal the victory.

David Bachofner and Kevin Mills provided two-run homers in the third and fourth innings to spark the ‘Cats to an early 4-0 lead. Mills was the offensive catalyst for Linfield, going 3 for 4 with three RBIs and one run scored.

Pirate ace Chad Flett gave his team a productive start with the exception of the two home runs. Flett went seven innings, giving up four runs on five Linfield hits. Mitch Nelson gave Whitworth its only run of the game with his first home run of the season in the top of the seventh inning.

With the score 4-1, Flett was relieved by right-hander Brent Flyberg. After Flyberg hit Drew Van Cleave and Bachofner to lead off the inning, Stew Davis laced a single to add another run. Brian Kerr then provided the ‘Cats with a two-run single up the middle.

After Linfield scored one last run in the eighth, the game was all but over, taking an 8-1 lead to closer Robert Vaughn.

Vaughn relieved Wildcats starter Brian Clark, who was dominant throughout the afternoon. Clark stifled the Pirates, giving up five hits and one earned run in eight innings of work. Clark moves to 4-0 on the season.

GAME 2
Following up Clark’s performance, Dorn was able to match his teammate pitch-for-pitch in the nightcap. The sophomore right-hander gave coach Scott Brosius eight innings of shutout ball, allowing just five hits and striking out three.

Davis and Rhett Fenton got the offense going in the bottom half of the second. Davis led off the frame with a single and Fenton followed up with a double off the right-field wall.

With Dorn pitching strong, Linfield got some separtation from Whitworth in the bottom of the sixth inning. Mills and Webb led off the inning with back-to-back doubles, jump-starting an inning which saw four runs on six hits.

Webb finished the game with two RBI while Shannon Chung and Jordan Boustead had two hits apiece for the home team. Dorn bounces back this weekend with a win, running his record to 2-1.

The two teams resume action Sunday with a doubleheader to complete the four-game series. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.