Linfield is among four teams to qualify for the Northwest Conference Tournament, which runs Friday-Sunday at the Morse Athletic Complex in Newberg.
 
The Wildcats shared the NWC regular-season championship with George Fox, but the Bruins where given the nod to host the championship event after winning a tiebreaker.
 
The winner of the tournament title receives the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III championships.
 
Tournament Schedule
Friday, April 20
Game 1: No. 1 George Fox vs. No. 4 Pacific, noon
Game 2: No. 2 Linfield vs. No. 3 Whitworth, 2:30 p.m.
 
Saturday, April 21
Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2, 11 a.m.
Game 4: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2, 1:30 p.m.
Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4, 4 p.m.
 
Sunday, April 22
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.
 
Here's a team-by-team preview of the NWC Tournament teams:
 
No. 1 seed George Fox Bruins (33-7, 24-4 NWC)
Winning a share of its first conference crown, George Fox earned a right to host the conference tournament after tying with Linfield and claiming a four-game sweep of third-place Whitworth (Linfield won three of four from Whitworth). Arguably the most powerful team of the four at the plate, the Bruins smacked an NWC-best 63 home runs this season. Allison Meyer (14), Annie Veatch (12) and Roni Braun (11) fill the top three spots among conference home run leaders. As impressive as the Bruins are at the plate, the team is not a threat to swipe bags once on base. George Fox ranks sixth in the conference with 36 steals as a team. Inside the pitching circle, George Fox is head and shoulders above the rest of the field. A NWC-best 2.18 ERA can largely be credited to NWC Pitcher of the Year candidate Madison Sorenson (20-2). The Bruins' ace has piled up 150 strikeouts in 125.2 innings and hasn't lost since April 9, a 1-0 setback to Pacific Lutheran. Neck and neck with Linfield, it would surprise no one if the Bruins and the Wildcats face one another on championship Sunday.
 
No. 2 seed Linfield Wildcats (32-8, 24-4 NWC)
Sprinting back to tie George Fox for the NWC regular season championship, Linfield has impressed many with an entirely new infield and a youthful, yet consistent pitching rotation. The 'Cats lead the NWC with a team batting average of .353, 120 stolen bases, 403 hits, 140 walks and .434 on-base percentage. The Wildcats showcase three of their hitters at the top of the NWC RBI leaders list. Melanie Oord (42), Emily Allen (39) and Darian Stedman (39) have been timely hitters with runners on base. Shelby Saylors and Eliza Rossman form a powerful one-two punch in the circle. The two share an ERA of 3.09 and combine for more than 240 innings from the stripe. Led by its six seniors, Linfield may not be as experienced as it has been in seasons past. Yet this impressive all-around club is poised to make another run at the conference tournament championship.
 
No. 3 seed Whitworth Pirates (24-16, 17-11 NWC)
After a slow start, Whitworth got back to its winning ways during the middle portion of conference play. The Pirates did not fare well versus teams in the tournament. The Pirates lost three of four to the Wildcats and Boxers and were swept by George Fox. Perhaps the dark horse to steal in the tournament, Whitworth is no slouch. The NWC's third-best team in the batter's box this spring, Whitworth is sparked by Michelle Silva at the top of the lineup. She enters the tournament hitting .444 with 30 RBI. Keep an eye on freshmen Sara Gayer and Kaylie Lowery, both of whom are hitting above .390 in their rookie seasons. With a team ERA of 4.07, the majority of the pitching weight is on freshman Madelyn Carlson, who has started 22 games (146.2 innings) and owns a 3.15 ERA. Ashley Trublood, Kaylee Rosebaum and Megan Truesdale are the only other Pirates to register innings inside the circle. Whitworth may not be ready for a championship run yet, but the future is certainly bright for this developing club that doesn't shy away from the big moment.
 
No. 4 seed Pacific Boxers (21-15, 15-13 NWC)
The final team to clinch a playoff spot, Pacific made the cut after finishing two games above .500. The Boxers are a true middle-of-the-pack team but enjoyed success against Whitworth and stole a game from Linfield earlier this month. Despite hitting eighth in the Boxers' order, Kaitlyn Donaca's .418 average ranks fifth among NWC hitters. A quick team, Pacific stole 70 bases (second-most in the NWC) and can put the game in motion once on base. Nicole Martinez leads the team with 23 stolen bases, second-best in the conference. The fifth-best pitching team this season, Pacific will need some heroic performances from inside the circle. Alyssa Burns and Ashley Martin are expected to pitch a majority of the tournament but look for Erin Shick to throw some innings as well. Drawing George Fox in the first round, the Boxers pitching staff faces a tough test in their very first tournament game. The Boxers were outscored 37-12 in the four-game series with the Bruins.