by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield completed the weekend sweep with 14-5 and 11-6 wins over visiting Whitworth in Sunday's non-conference softball games.

Linfield improves to 11-1, extending its winning streak to nine games. Whitworth concludes its non-conference schedule with a 2-10 record, facing two Division II opponents before Linfield who is ranked No. 6 by the NFCA.   

Sara Gayer finished 4-4 on the day with an RBI and two runs scored. Maddy Thomas hit her third home run of the weekend in game two.

Game 1 – Linfield 14, Whitworth 5

The Pirates and Wildcats were tied 1-1 after four innings, but Linfield scored a combined 13 runs in the fifth and sixth innings to take game one.

Linfield took the 1-0 lead in the third, scoring on a wild pitch.

Whitworth tied it up in the top of the fourth after an RBI single from Nashoni Boyd. The Pirates then scored three runs in the following frame to take the 4-1 lead. An infield single from Heather Menzer brought in the first run and Delayna Waite scored on an error for the second. Rylee Gentner hit a sacrifice fly to give the Pirates the three-run advantage.   

The Wildcats responded with a nine-run bottom of the fifth that included a three-run homer by Kelsey Wilkinson.

The Pirates added a run in the top of the sixth, but the Wildcats scored four more in the bottom half.

Kylie Harris started in the circle for the Pirates and allowed 14 runs (13 earned) on nine hits in 5.1 innings of work. Maddy Podnar got the win for the Wildcats, allowing four runs (two earned) on five hits in five innings.

Game 2 – Linfield 11, Whitworth 6

The Pirates trailed 8-1 after three innings but worked their way back into the game, cutting the deficit to 8-6 in the sixth inning. The Wildcats scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull away.

Ashley Bartels hit 2-3 with two RBIs and a pair of doubles. Gayer went 3-3 at the plate with an RBI and Maddy Thomas drove in two Pirates with a home run.   

Linfield got out to a 4-0 lead after a three-run homer from Emma Podliska. It was the Wildcats' third home run of the day.

Whitworth narrowed the lead to 4-1 after a sacrifice fly from Julia Dillon in the third. However, the Wildcats responded with another four runs in the bottom half.

Bartels brought in two runs with a double and Gayer worked a bases-loaded walk to bring the score to 8-4. The Pirates narrowed the deficit to two in the sixth after a two-run homer by Thomas.

The Wildcats added three runs in the bottom of the sixth and Jordan Bennett pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with two strikeouts to shut down the comeback. Bennett was credited with the win after pitching the final 3.1 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Melanie Laronde allowed eight runs on 11 hits in 2.2 innings for the Pirates. Harris relieved Laronde in the third and allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits.

Coming Up: Whitworth opens Northwest Conference play next weekend with a four-game series at Puget Sound.