by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

NEWBERG, Ore. – Linfield defeated Whitworth 9-1 on Saturday afternoon to win its third straight Northwest Conference softball tournament title and the NWC's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III playoffs.

Whitworth advanced to the final day of the NWC tournament as the four seed and finishes the season 15-23 overall. Linfield hit four homers on its way to another championship victory, improving to 36-7 on the year.  

The Pirates scored their only run in the top of the first, as Heather Menzer drove in Brynn Radke with a single down the left field line. The Wildcats had two walks and an error in the inning but caught a runner stealing and threw out another at home to limit the damage to one.

Jenny Ball hit a grand slam in the bottom of the first to put Linfield up 4-1.

The Pirates led off the second and third innings by getting a runner in scoring position. Jessica Rusconi reached second base on an error in the second inning and Kaylie Lowery hit a leadoff double in the third, but both runners were stranded.

The Wildcats hit back-to-back homers in the bottom of the third and another in the fourth to extend their lead to 9-1.

Linfield held Whitworth scoreless in the fifth to win via the eight-run rule.

Maddy Podnar (13-3) pitched all five innings for the Wildcats and allowed just two hits with four strikeouts.

Drea Schwaier-Wolf (8-10) threw 2.1 innings for the Pirates, allowing seven runs on six hits. Kylie Harris allowed two runs and two hits in 1.2 innings of relief.