Linn had trouble at California last Wednesday, managing four hits in an 8-1 loss to the Pintos.

“We couldn’t muster anything offensively,” said Coach Dan Campbell. “They are very good. We have a lot of work to do in all aspects, including coaching.”

The Wildcats scored their run in the top of the sixth after Bobby Winkelman hit a two-out single and scored on an Austin Dudenhoeffer double, his second hit of the game.

Tryten Reynolds also earned a hit for the Wildcats.

On the mound, Dudenhoeffer’s 4.1-inning start ended with seven earned runs on eight hits, with three strikeouts and three walks. Gus Peters closed out the game with no hits and two strikeouts.

Linn won the JV game 2-0.

In the second, Joe Brandt led off with a walk, and Logan Martin entered as a courtesy runner. He advanced on a Carson Kempker single. Lane McKim sacrificed Martin to third, and Aaron Starke drove him in on a groundout.

Peyton Peters led off the top of the third with a walk, and Jake Kubiak reached on an error. After Peters stole second, he moved to third on a groundout to put runners on the corners. Nash Tyree delivered an RBI single.

Tyree started the game on the rubber and allowed no hits or walks in his one inning of work. Peters struck out three in an inning, and Kubiak struck out one in an inning as the trio combined for a no-hitter.

On Tuesday, Linn lost a challenging game to South Callaway despite a late lead, 8-6.

“We had a very disappointing loss to South Callaway,” said Campbell. “We couldn’t finish the game in the seventh. We have to be better at closing the game out. Give South Callaway credit; they put the ball in play and found some holes, and then they made a nice defensive play in the bottom of the seventh to close us out.”

The Wildcats plated two in the bottom of the first to get the ball rolling, so to speak. Bobby Winkelman (2-5) sent a one-out double to center field, and Dudenhoeffer (1-1) was intentionally walked. That was not good for the Bulldogs as P. Peters (2-5, RBI) singled to drive in Winkleman and push Dudenhoeffer to third.

During Craig Laughlin’s at-bat (walk), an error on a pickoff play allowed Dudenhoeffer to score for a 2-0 lead.

SC cut the lead in half with a run in the fourth, but Linn got it back after consecutive singles by Dawson Sprenger (1-4) and Martin (1-1), and a bunt single by Kubiak (3-5, 2 RBI). Sprenger scored on an error.

Linn led 3-2 in the fifth and scored two more. Reynolds (2-4, RBI) connected for a one-out single, and two batters later, Starke walked (CR Hunter Bish entered the game). Reynolds advanced to third on an error, and Kubiak doubled to drive in Bish and Reynolds.

The Wildcats added another run in the bottom of the sixth to take a 6-2 lead into the final frame. SC scored six to take an 8-2 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.

Winkelman hit a two-out double, and Dudenhoeffer singled to put two aboard, but they were stranded.

In a five-inning start, Reynolds allowed one earned run on four hits with three strikeouts and six walks. In two innings of relief, Sprenger gave up five earned on seven hits with two walks.

“Hopefully, we learn from last week’s games and improve,” said Campbell. “We have some big games coming up, and we want to be playing our best baseball come district time. Our boys are working hard in practice, and that’s all I can ask for.”

The JV Wildcats lost 6-3 to South Callaway.

Bish (2-2), J. Brandt (2-2), Starke (1-1, RBI), and Sprenger (1-2) each had a hit in the bottom of the third, McKim was hit by a pitch, and Kempker walked to plate three.

Kempker gave up six earned runs on four hits, with four walks in a third of an inning. Martin, in 1.1 innings, walked one and struck out one.