Saylors Tosses One-Hitter in First Game to Lead Linfield to Sweep of Doubleheader

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Shelby Saylors threw a one-hitter as Linfield College defeated Willamette University, 8-0, on the run rule in six innings, to open a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Saturday, March 17 at Del Smith Stadium. The Wildcats won the second game, 13-2, on the run rule in five innings. Linfield, which received votes but was not ranked in the NCAA Division III Poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) this week, improved to 16-6 on the season and to 8-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 2-9 overall, 2-6 in the NWC.

The teams will complete the four-game weekend series with a doubleheader on Sunday, March 18 in McMinnville. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. (PDT).

Saylors struck out four batters and allowed three walks, while improving to 6-5 in the circle. Sofia Magnani (So., OF/P, Belmont, CA/Notre Dame HS) recorded Willamette's only hit on a single with two outs in the second inning and the game still scoreless. Saylors forced Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) to fly out to center field to end the inning.

Linfield scored the first two runs of the opener in the bottom of the second inning. Chelsea Horita hit an infield single to third and gave way to pinch-runner Kelsey Wilkinson. Wilkinson moved to third on a ground out and scored on a single by Paige Smotherman. With two outs, Smotherman was at third. She scored on a short infield single by Jacinda Swiger.

The score remained 2-0 until Jessica Woodruff single to start the fourth inning and scored on a double by Smotherman. The play ended with Smotherman being thrown out at third 8-6-5. Horita added a two-run double in the fifth inning to give Linfield a 5-0 advantage. In the sixth inning, Cheyenne Fletcher singled and later scored on an error, while Darian Stedman and Horita each hit an RBI single to end the game on the run rule.

Stedman was 3 for 4 with three RBIs. Smotherman finished 2 of 3 with a double, a run scored and two RBis. Swiger and Melanie Orrd each went 2 of 4.

In the second game, Linfield outhit the Bearcats, 10-6. Willamette held a 2-1 lead after 2 1/2 innings, but the Wildcats scored eight runs in the bottom of the third for a 9-2 advantage. Linfield added four runs in the fourth inning and then held Willamette without a run in the top of the fifth to end the game on the run rule.

The Wildcats tallied the first run in the second inning. With one out, Woodruff doubled to left field. Makenna Clizer followed with a single to center to drive in Woodruff. Willamette answered with a pair of runs in the top of the third inning. The stanza began with Kea Gier (So., 3B, Kaneohe, HI/Iolani School) reaching base on a passed ball following a third strike. Breianna Mcleod (Fr., SS/UT, Kailua Kona, HI/West Hawaii Explorations Acad.) hit an infield single toward third and Emily Bishop (Jr., OF, Maple Valley, WA/Tahoma HS/Pierce College) sent an infield single toward the pitcher.

One out later, Bailey Hillmick (Fr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEween HS) provided WU with an RBI single to center, as Gier crossed the plate. Jocelyn Glasgo (So., P/OF, Rochester, WA/Tumwater HS) walked to force in Mcleod with another run for a 2-1 lead. Linfield pitcher Eliza Rossman got out of the inning with back-to-back strikeouts.

Linfield's outburst in the third inning featured five singles, one double and two errors. Four of the runs were unearned. Emily Allen doubled to bring in the final run of the inning. Willamette committed two errors in the bottom of the fourth inning, which led to four unearned run for the Wildcats.

Fletcher went 3 for 3 for Linfield with three runs scored and an RBI. Allen was 2 of 4 with a run and two RBIs. Clizer went 2 of 3 and drove in two runs. Rossman improved to 10-0 with the win.

For Willamette, Hillmick was 2 of 3 with a run and an RBI. Magnani was 1 for 2 with a double.