Wildcats Pull Away Late in Game 1; Teams to Finish Game 2 on Monday

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Linfield University scored three runs in the fifth inning and plated six runs in the sixth, as the Wildcats defeated Willamette University, 13-1, in the first game of a Northwest Conference doubleheader on Sunday, March 26 at the WU Softball Field. In the second game, Linfield held a 5-3 lead in the top of the fifth inning when play was suspended due to the weather.

With the win in the first game, Linfield moved to 16-2 on the season, 6-0 in the NWC. The Wildcats are ranked #9 in the NCAA Division III Coaches Poll. Willamette ended the game at 13-11 overall, 8-6 in the NWC. The Bearcats and the Wildcats will complete the second game on Monday, March 27 prior to a game already scheduled for Monday. Action at the WU Softball Field will get underway at 1 p.m. (PDT).

In the first game on Sunday, Linfield pitcher Tarah Kelly improved to 11-0 on the season after allowing one run and earning five strikeouts in five innings pitched. Mackenzie Burke pitched the sixth inning for the Wildcats. WU starting pitcher Abigail Loomis (Fy., P/OF, Canby, OR/Canby HS) fell to 4-2 with the loss.

Emma Elliott (Fy., OF, Battle Ground, WA/Battle Ground HS) of Willamette went 2 for 2 with two doubles. Mia Lund (Jr., UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) hit a single for the Bearcats, while Marykate DeLuca (Sr., C, San Diego, CA/San Diego International Studies) and Brianna Majors (Sr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) each belted a double.

Baily Paul was 3 of 4 with two runs and an RBI for Linfield. Katie Phillips went 3 for 5 with a run and two RBIs. Katrina Johns was 2 of 4 with a double, two runs scored, and three RBIs. Cydney Hess and Brynn Nelson also recorded a double, while Claire Seats hit a triple.

Each team scored one run in the first inning of the afternoon. Paul singled to open the game for Linfield. She stole second base and reached home plate on a single to left center by Kaili Saathoff. In the bottom of the first, DeLuca pounded a double near the right field line with two outs. Majors batted next and hit another double to send DeLuca across the plate.

Linfield added a run in the top of the third for a 2-1 lead. Seats blasted her triple down the left field line and Hess provided the Wildcats with an RBI single through the left side of the infield.

The Wildcats plated two runs in the fourth inning before creating three runs in the fifth to increase their lead to 7-1. The fifth inning included four hits by the Wildcats, including an RBI double by Johns, who later scored on a double-steal. Paul connected for an RBI single to complete the scoring. Elliott doubled to left center for WU in the bottom of the fifth and reached third on a sacrifice bunt by Gianna Marchese (Grad., 3B/1B, Seattle, WA/Bishop Blanchet HS/St. Martin's Univ.), but a strikeout and a groundout ended the threat.

In the sixth inning, Linfield scored six runs on six hits. All six hits were singles, including a two-run base hit by Johns.

Details from Sunday's second game will be included in Monday's recap after the game is completed.