Linfield Wins Twice against Bearcats as Willamette Ends Season

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Linfield College defeated Willamette University in both games of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, April 19, winning the first game 8-0 and the second game 11-1. Both games ended on the run rule in five innings.

The Wildcats advanced their record to 28-12 overall, 17-11 in the NWC. Willamette concluded its season at 16-22, including 13-15 in the NWC. Linfield will be the #4 seed in the NWC Tournament next weekend and will take on regular season champion Whitworth University (21-7 NWC) in the first round.

Pitcher Montana McNealy tossed all five innings for Linfield in the opener. She struck out 11 batters and allowed just three hits and one walk. McNeally also threw the first three innings of the second game, as she added three strikeouts and gave up five hits. She did not allow a run in either appearance.

McNealy, who took the loss in Willamette's 1-0 win on Saturday in Salem, Ore., improved to 19-5 with both wins on Sunday.

WU starter Jade Smith (So., P, Chico, CA/Chico HS), who won on Saturday, allowed six runs in the the first three innings of the opener on Sunday. She fell to 12-8 with the loss. Hayley Glantz (Sr., P, Reno, NV/Robert McQueen HS) started the second game and and dropped to 3-10.

In the first game, Linfield tallied two runs in the bottom of the first. With one out Erin Carson walked and Cheyenne Fletcher was hit by a pitch. Erin Kinney loaded the bases with an infield hit toward shortstop. Carson scored on a single to center by Erin Tauscher and Fletcher crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by Danielle Duman.

Willamette registered two hits with two outs in the top of the third. Myranda Ramirez (So., CF, Sunnyvale, CA/Homestead HS) sent an infield single to second base. Pender followed with a single to right field, but Ramirez was thrown out attempting to reach third base

The Wildcats upped their advantage to 6-0 in the bottom of the third. Fletcher singled, stole second and went to third on a groundout. She scored on a single by Tauscher. The next three runs scored on a homer by McKenna Spieth.

Linfield added two more runs on the bottom of the fifth to complete the win. Both runs scored when Duman hit her 15th home run of the season.

Tauscher was 3 for 3 with two RBIs, while Duman finished 2 for 2 with two runs and a trio of RBIs. The Wildcats outhit the Bearcats 10-3. In addition to Ramirez and Pender, Jenna King (Sr., OF, Camarillo, CA/Adolfo Camarillo HS) also achieved a hit for Willamette.

The Bearcats produced two hits in each of the first two innings in the second game, but did not score. Ramirez and Pender both singled in the first stanza, while King and Alex Shields (So., C, Lake Forest, CA/El Toro HS) each recorded hits in the second inning.

In the bottom of the second, Linfield plated nine runs on nine hits. Tauscher belted a two-RBI double and Alissa Buss tacked on a two-run single for a 4-0 lead. Kinney doubled the advantage with a grand slam home run. Spieth contributed a sacrifice fly for the final RBI.

Willamette scored a run in the fourth inning. Kayla Rieger (Sr., 3B/OF, Anacortes, WA/Anacortes HS/Adelphi Univ.) singled and King walked. Erin Norris (Sr., 3B/C, Salem, OR/South Salem HS) hit into a 5-3 double play, as King advanced to second. Shield singled to center field to drive in King.

The Wildcats completed the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Fletcher singled and then went to second. Kinney brought Fletcher home on a double to left. Kinney then scored on a single by Duman.

Heather Winslow (Sr., 1B, Oregon City, OR/Oregon City HS) singled for WU in the top of the fifth, but was left at third base when the inning ended.

Duman went 3 for 3 in the second game with a run and an RBI. She was 5 for 5 on the day. Kinney was 2 for 3 with two runs and five RBIs in game two, while Fletcher went 2 for 3 and scored twice. Shields was 2 of 2 with an RBI for Willamette. Pender was 2 for 3 and King went 1 for 1 with a walk an a run scored.