McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
Melanie Oord and
Makenna Clizer both drove in six runs, and
Shelby Saylors picked up two pitching wins on Senior Day Saturday as the No. 17 Linfield Wildcats swept a Northwest Conference doubleheader from Lewis & Clark at Del Smith Stadium.
Between games, the Linfield coaching staff honored the Wildcats' six graduating seniors on the occasion of their final regular-season home game. The list of soon-to-be graduates includes Oord,
Cheyenne Fletcher,
Jessica Woodruff,
Emily Allen,
Jenica Neuffer and
Jacinda Swiger.
Linfield raised its season record to 30-8, marking the 15th straight season the program has reached the 30-win plateau.
The Wildcats remain tied atop the NWC standings with George Fox heading into the final day of regular-season play. With a sweep of the Pioneers Sunday in Portland, Linfield can claim at least a share of its first NWC crown since 2014. Sunday's doubleheader start time has been moved up one hour at 11 a.m. in hopes of dodging afternoon rain.
GAME 1: Linfield 8, Lewis & Clark 5
Oord went 2 for 3 and swatted her fifth home run of the season as Linfield piled up 10 hits. Clizer had a pair of hits, including a double, and drove in four runs.
Chelsea Horita also homered helping Linfield build a 4-0 lead after three innings.
Saylors earned the complete-game victory in the pitching circle. Striking out seven Pioneers while yielding no walks, the junior righthander improved to 14-5.
Paige Salavea had four hits to pace Lewis & Clark at the plate. Savannah Dickson took the loss to fall to 5-10.
GAME 2: Linfield 8, Lewis & Clark 5
Swiger, Allen, Oord and
Paige Smotherman all had two hits to fuel an 11-hit Linfield attack.
Linfield led 5-1 after two innings but was outscored 4-0 over the third and fourth innings.
Oord launched her second home run of the day in the sixth inning, providing two insurance runs after the Pioneers had closed to with one run, 6-5.
Wildcats starter
Eliza Rossman threw the first four innings but surrendered nine hits and five runs before turning the game over to Saylors, who allowed one hit and no runs the rest of the way.
