NEWBERG, Ore. – Nationally ranked foes Linfield and George Fox split a Northwest Conference twinbill Sunday at Morse Field. The 18th-ranked Bruins jumped on the No. 21 Wildcats from the onset on the way to a 9-3 win. Linfield rode the pitching arm of freshman
Eliza Rossman to victory in the series-culminating game, winning 4-1.
The two teams divided their annual four-game softball series. Linfield, which saw a six-game winning streak ended Saturday by George Fox, moved to 14-6 overall and 6-2 in the NWC. George Fox ended the weekend at 13-5 and 4-2 in conference play.
GAME 1: George Fox 9, Linfield 6
The Bruins pounced on Wildcats starter
Shelby Saylors for 10 hits and four earned runs, including a triple and a home run by the first two batters Saylors faced.
Trailing 3-0 entering the sixth, Linfield pulled even with an RBI single from
Cheyenne Fletcher followed by
Darian Stedman's two-run double to center field.
Jacinda Swiger tapped three hits from her leadoff position but no other Wildcat had more than one hit.
Saylors (5-5) took the loss. She finished with three strikeouts and one walk allowed.
Madison Sorensen (9-1) earned the win for the Bruins, striking out eight and walking none.
GAME 2: Linfield 4, George Fox 1
Rossman held the Bruins to three hits and one run, that coming on a Rachel Braun home run in the second inning. With a three-strikeout, three-walk performance, Rossman upped her season record in the pitching circle to 9-0.
Linfield scored all its runs in the final three stanzas.
Chelsea Horita spanked a single up the middle that enabled
Emily Allen to score in the fifth.
Makenna Clizer provided the impetus for the winning run, sending an Allison Bergerson pitch over the outfield wall in the sixth. The Wildcats plated two more runs in the final frame to complete the scoring.
Allen went 2 for 3 and scored twice. Clizer produced her second homer of the season.
Next
Linfield plays at home for the first time this season Saturday and Sunday when the Wildcats welcome the Willamette Bearcats to Del Smith Stadium. Doubleheaders both days start at noon.
