Linn lost to two very good teams at Friday’s home tournament, falling 13-3 to Hermann and 11-6 to Dixon.   

“The boys continue to improve in basic fundamentals against good competition,” said Coach Dan Campbell. “Throwing strikes, pitching to contact, and making routine defensive plays continue to be points of emphasis for our squad. Hitting has been very good all season. We have several guys hitting the ball very well.”

In the early game against the Bearcats, Linn lost in five innings after a seven-run fifth.

Trailing 6-0 in the fourth, the Wildcats scored three runs.

Curtis Deeken (1-2) led off with a single and moved to second on a single by Bobby Winkelman (1-2). Two batters later, Tryten Reynolds (1-4) hit a line-drive single to right to load the bases.

With two outs, Austin Dudenhoeffer (2-3, RBI) smashed a double to center field to clear the bases and cut the lead in half.

Linn put two aboard in the fifth on walks, but they were stranded.

Earlier in the game, Eli Baker had a double but did not make it home.

Deeken took the loss after a four-inning start in which he allowed eight earned runs on 10 hits, with three walks and two strikeouts. In a third of an inning to end the game, Reynolds gave up a pair of runs on two hits with a strikeout and two walks.

In the second game of pool play, Linn held a 6-2 lead going into the bottom of the sixth but couldn’t hold it.

“We had the lead against Dixon before walks and errors hurt us in that game,” Campbell noted.

Linn got a lead-off walk from Reynolds to start the game, and Gus Peters sacrificed him to second. However, the next two batters went down swinging to end the frame.

Pitcher Arlyn Martin got around a walk in the bottom of the first, and in the second, the Wildcats put two runs on the board.

Trevor Murray (1-3, 2 RBI) drew a one-out walk, and Martin joined him on the bases after being hit by a pitch. A walk to Deeken loaded the bags for Bobby Winkelman, who hit into a fielder’s choice. Courtesy runner Trevor Brandt (in for Deeken) and Murray scored to make it 2-0.

Martin, who allowed three earned runs on eight hits in six innings, with four walks and a strikeout, looked good in the second, sidestepping two singles to maintain Linn’s lead.

In the third, Dudenhoeffer (3-4, 2 RBI) led off with a single, and Cody Leivian (1-2) followed with another. Both moved up on a sac-bunt from Baker and came home on Murray’s base hit to left.

In the bottom of the third, armed with a 4-0 lead, Martin needed four pitches to retire the Bulldogs on two ground-outs and a pop fly.

Dixon scored a run in the fourth and another in the fifth, but Linn wasn’t done.

In the top of the sixth, Winkelman reached on an error by the catcher after a bunt attempt but was cut down on an FC that allowed Reynolds to earn first base.

Peters drew a walk to set the stage with two on for Dudenhoeffer, whose line-drive single to center scored both. Dudenhoeffer reached second on the throw but was stranded.

Dixon got hot in the bottom of the inning, using a combination of hits and walks to end the sixth with nine runs.