McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield University completed a four-game sweep of visiting Whitworth in a Northwest Conference softball series on Saturday afternoon.
The 11th-ranked Wildcats (15-2 overall, 7-0 NWC) defeated the Pirates (11-9, 1-7) 5-0 and 4-2 on a day that appeared in jeopardy before rains held off long enough to get in both contests.
Whitworth will finally get to play at home next weekend, hosting Puget Sound in a four-game series.
Game 1 – Linfield 5, Whitworth 0
In a virtual repeat of Friday's first game, Wildcat starting pitcher Tayah Kelley threw a three-hit, complete-game shutout.
Emma Podliska had a two-run single for Linfield in the second and added another RBI with a single in the fourth. Kamryn Mobley scored on both of those hits. Abi Proffitt drove in a run with a single in the sixth to send Mobley to her third run of the game. Podliska added her third RBI hit of the contest in the sixth to round out Linfield's offense.
Haley Montoya had two of Whitworth's three-hits against Kelley. Kelley struck out 14 Pirate batters and walked three to improve to 9-0 this season.
Corrine Vasiloff (6-7) went the distance for Whitworth, allowing five runs on 11 hits and two walks.
Game 2 – Linfield 4, Whitworth 2
The Pirates could not overcome an early 3-0 deficit in in the series finale against the Wildcats.
Linfield scored two in the first when the Katie Phillips tripled home the first run and then scored on a ground ball to second base.
Claire Seats doubled to lead off the third and scored on a ground ball to second base.
Whitworth scored its first run of the series in the fourth when Rylee Gentner, who reached on an error, scored on a sacrifice fly by Maddy Thomas. Ashley Bartels pulled the Pirates to within 3-2 with a pinch-hit home run in the fifth inning.
Linfield added a key insurance run in the fifth.
Tyler Warden (3-0) started for Linfield and got the win after giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits in five innings. She struck out two batters. Kelley threw the final two frames for her first save, striking out three.
Vasiloff (6-8) had her second straight complete game, giving up four runs on six hits and four walks.
