Linn baseball coach Dan Campbell is happy with the team’s 2-1 start as the Wildcats split a doubleheader on Saturday after winning the first game of the year on Friday.

In the early game on Saturday against Eldon, the Wildcats lost 11-1.  “We showed our inexperience a little bit,” said Campbell.  “We also lacked intensity.”

Bobby Winkelman and Tryten Reynolds had a hit apiece for Linn, and Austin Dudenhoeffer drove in the lone run in the first.  Winkelman delivered a one-out single and advanced to second on an error.  He moved to third on a wild pitch, and Dudenhoeffer drove him in on a sacrifice.

Gus Peters started the game and, over two innings, allowed an earned run on three hits with two strikeouts and a walk.

Peyten Peters allowed seven runs on 10 hits with a walk over the next 2.2 innings.

Linn responded to the loss with a 3-2 win over Richland.  “We had much better intensity,” said Campbell.  “Tryten put the team on his back and shut down Richland on the mound.”

Reynolds went the distance, striking out 11 and walking just one over seven innings; he allowed two earned on three hits.

Trailing 1-0 after the first inning, Linn tied the game in the second.

Jax Kubiak drew a walk, and P. Peters walked two batters later.  With two aboard, Dawson Sprenger drove in Kubiak on a fielder’s choice.

The Bears recaptured the lead in the third, but Linn evened it again in the fourth.  Kubiak again had a walk, this time with one out.  He scored when Reynolds reached on an error.

In the seventh, the Wildcats plated the game-winner on a two-out single by G. Peters to score Sprenger, who had reached via error.

Winkelman also had a single for the Wildcats.

Linn claimed a 3-2 win over Hermann on Friday.

“It was a nice team win for us,” said Campbell.  “Austin threw five great innings for us, and Craig (Laughlin) got a big three-run HR.  The kids really competed well in the Hermann game.”

Neither team scored until the sixth when all the offense took place.

In the top of the frame, Linn plated three after Winkleman and Dudenhoeffer hit consecutive singles, and Laughlin smashed the ball to left to clear the bases.

Hermann answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, and neither team scored in the seventh, each going down in order.

P. Peters also had a single.

On the rubber, Dudenhoeffer struck out seven and walked two but allowed no runs on three hits over 4.2 innings.  G. Peters gave up two runs on three hits with two strikeouts in 1.1 innings, and Reynolds struck out the three batters he faced.

“We’re not hitting yet but still managed to win two,” said Campbell.  “Hopefully, we start to sting the ball offensively.  We need to continue to throw strikes and make routine defensive plays, and we will be fine!”

In the JV game on Friday, Linn lost 5-4 to Hermann.

All of Linn’s runs came in the third.  P. Peters was hit by a pitch to start the inning.  He scored on a Nash Tyree (1-2, RBI) double.  Hunter Bish (1-1) walked, and Tyree stole third, then scored on a passed ball to make it a 5-2 deficit.  Joe Brandt (1-2) singled to move Bish to third, and the latter stole home for Linn’s third run.  Brandt stole second on the play and, later, third base.  He scored on a wild pitch, but that was all the Wildcats would get.