Linn led early but couldn’t hold it in a 6-2 loss to Eugene as the Eagles used a five-run fifth inning to break open a tight game last Tuesday, despite a seven-hit effort from the Wildcats.

“One bad inning cost us,” said Linn coach Caleb Thomas. “The top of our lineup got hot. We out-hit them; they just executed well when they got some runners on. They pitched pretty well against us, and didn’t surrender a walk.”

Linn struck first in the third inning when Dawson Sprenger lifted a sacrifice fly to score one run.

Eugene answered in the bottom half of the inning.

Linn regained the lead in the fifth when Gus Peters (3-4, 2 runs) singled to put the Wildcats in front 2-1.

Eugene responded in the bottom of the inning, stringing together four hits and capitalizing on scoring opportunities to push across five runs.

Jax Kubiak (2-4) added two hits for Linn, while Peyton Peters (2-4) posted an RBI. Joe Brandt (2 SB) created pressure on the bases as the Wildcats finished with seven hits.

Sprenger started and took the loss on the mound, allowing three earned runs on three hits over four innings while striking out four and walking two. In two innings, P. Peters struck out three and gave up two hits.

Montgomery County also used a nine-run fourth inning to separate from Linn as the Wildcats fell, 9-3.

“This was very similar to the Eugene game,” Thomas said. “The top of the lineup stayed hot and generated some early offense, but they strung together eight of their 11 hits in one inning to outpace us for the game.”

Linn again generated early offense behind the top of the order.

Kubiak (3-4, 2 doubles, 2 runs) continued to swing a hot bat at the top of the lineup, while P. Peters (2-3, 2 RBI) added run production for the Wildcats. G. Peters finished with a hit and scored a run.

On the mound, G. Peters gave up six earned runs on seven hits with two strikeouts over a 3.1-inning start. In 2.2 innings, P. Peters held MC scoreless, allowing four hits while striking out one and walking two.