Linn opened the baseball season with a 5-3 win over Eugene on Saturday after losing earlier in the day and on Friday.

“Beating a very good Eugene team was a highlight for us on Saturday,” said Coach Dan Campbell. “It was a quality win against a district opponent. I am very proud of our team for bouncing back after two tough losses. Getting that win Saturday afternoon showed a lot of character and fortitude.”

In a bonus-game setting at Eldon, Linn and Eugene each scored a run in the first, but Linn created separation with four runs in the second.

Tryten Reynolds (2-4, 2 RBI) drove in Linn’s first run after Bobby Winkelman (1-3) and Austin Dudenhoeffer (3-3, RBI) singled.

In the second, Seth Wolfe (1-3) doubled to open the frame. Winkelman reached on a one-out error and moved to second base on an error that allowed Gus Peters to reach base. Wolfe scored on the play.

From there, Dudenhoeffer smashed a line-drive single down the right-field line to plate Winkelman and moved to second on defensive interference. Peters scored on the error to give Linn a 5-1 lead.

With Dudenhoeffer at second, Reynolds delivered his second hit of the game to drive in the fifth run.

Eugene plated a run in the fourth and another in the sixth.

Peters went the distance, allowing one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts and a walk. “Gus had a tremendous performance,” said Campbell. “He was a force on the mound, and we made several nice defensive plays behind him as well.”

In the early game on Saturday, Linn fell to Eldon, 3-1.

Things looked good in the first after Winkleman (1-3) reached on an error and moved to second on a sacrifice by Peters. Winkelman advanced to third and later scored, both on passed balls, for Linn’s only run of the game. Craig Laughlin also had a hit.

Eldon tied the game in the second and took the lead with a pair of runs in the third.

“Austin and Bobby pitched well,” said Campbell. “We just couldn’t solve Eldon’s pitcher, Hunter Hess, who is an excellent thrower.”

Dudenhoeffer started on the mound and pitched three innings, allowing three earned runs on four hits with two strikeouts and two walks. Winkelman closed the game, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out two.

On Friday night, Linn lost to Harrisburg, 4-3.

“This was a very hard-fought game that just didn’t go our way late,” said Campbell. “I was proud of the boys for fighting back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game in the seventh inning.”

The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third after Peters (1-3) hit a two-out single and scored on a Dudenhoeffer (1-3) double.

Harrisburg surged in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead, which remained the score until the top of the seventh when Linn tied it up.

Curtis Deeken (2-3, double) and Laughlin (1-3) connected on consecutive singles to set the stage for Trevor Brandt, who reached on an error that allowed courtesy runner Lane McKim and Laughlin to score.

On the rubber, Arlyn Martin struck out five while allowing three earned runs on nine hits with a walk in 6.1 innings. “Arlyn pitched a great game to give us a chance to win,” said Campbell.