NEWBERG, Ore. – Makenna Clizer went 2 for 3 with a home run and the Linfield Wildcats played error-free softball behind pitcher Shelby Saylors to defeat the Whitworth Pirates 5-1 Friday on the opening day of action at the Northwest Conference Tournament at Morse Athletic Complex.
 
The three-day, four-team double elimination tournament continues Saturday with three games.
 
The Wildcats (33-8) face Pacific (22-15) at 1:30 p.m. The fourth-seeded Boxers dealt regular-season champion George Fox a 10-2 loss in the other first round game Friday. George Fox meets Whitworth in an elimination game at 11 a.m.
 
Linfield jumped on Pirates starter Madelyn Carlson for three runs in the third inning. The scoring spree included a run-scoring sacrifice by Melanie Oord and an RBI double from Emily Allen.
 
Whitworth closed the margin to 3-1 in the top of the fourth inning with Natalie Edlin's RBI single that scored Michelle Silva.
 
The Wildcats answered back in the bottom of the inning, using a single from Chelsea Horita to score pinch runner Kelsey Wilkinson.
 
Clizer smacked her sixth home run of the season in the sixth, a solo shot to left field to plate the game's final run.
 
Both teams totaled nine hits though Whitworth stranded 10 runners to Linfield's three.
 
In addition to Clizer's two hits, Paige Smotherman tapped a pair of singles for Linfield.
 
Saylors collected her 18th pitching win of the season. She struck out three Pirates and walked two to earn the complete-game victory.

Tournament At A Glance
Friday Results
Pacific 10, George Fox 2
Linfield 5, Whitworth 1
 
Saturday Schedule
Game 3: George Fox vs. Whitworth, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Pacific vs. Linfield, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 4 p.m.
 
Sunday Schedule
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5, noon
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary), 2:30 p.m.