Linfield Stuns Lewis-Clark State, 7-6

LEWISTON,ID--Linfield College handed Lewis-Clark State College its first loss in the 10th Annual Paffile Trucking Tournament, 7-6, Sunday evening, at a frigid Harris Field.

Linfield College (2-1) scored four runs in the third and three more in the sixth and then held on for the victory. Mike Cooney led the Wildcats, the Northwest Conference’s (NCAA III) preseason favorite, with three hits, all singles, from the leadoff spot in the lineup. Kevin Schjei added a single and a double and collected two RBI.

The first four hitters in the Warriors lineup collected eight of Lewis-Clark State’s (6-3) 11 hits. They also scored four runs and drove in five. Zeph Zinsman has a pair of hits, including a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh.

Cooney started the scoring in the third with an RBI single up the middle off of LCSC starter Patrick Bailes (0-1). Drew Norris, who had gotten on base with a single and then advanced on Warrior first baseman Zinsman’s error of not catching the ball on a pick off to third. Darren Heath followed Cooney’s hit with a double to right center. Schjei, the next batter, plated both runners with a double of his own, to left center. Jimmy McCary scored Schjei with a single to center.

The Warriors plated one run in the fourth, and two more in the fifth, finally chasing Wildcat starter Brian McCoy (1-0) after seven complete.

Trailing 7-3, the Warriors got a one-out infield single from Brendan Ryan in the seventh. Matt Morgan followed with a double to right. McCoy unleashed a wild pitch, scoring Ryan from third, and Morgan advanced to second. Zinsman, two batters later, crushed an offering over the right centerfield wall, cutting the lead to one.

But Linfield brought in Todd Rubin, who picked up his first save, and shut the L-C bats down in the last two innings.

The same two teams will meet for the Paffile Trucking Tournament title, tomorrow at approximately 1:30 PM. The consolation game will pit Eastern Oregon against Albertson, at 11:00 AM.

Box score vs. Linfield