McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield came from behind to beat Pacific once, but couldn't do it a second time Monday night, splitting a makeup Northwest Conference doubleheader at Del Smith Stadium. The Wildcats won the opener 9-8 before seeing their five-game win streak snapped in a 6-0 shutout loss to the Boxers in the nightcap.
 
Linfield, which was held scoreless for only the second time this spring, moved to 20-4 in the NWC and 28-8 overall. Pacific ended the night at 12-12 in the NWC, 18-14 overall.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 9, Pacific 8
Outhit but not outscored, the Wildcats overcame a 5-0 third-inning deficit to blow past the Boxers with multi-run innings in the fourth, fifth and sixth frames.
 
After Linfield fell into the 5-0 hole, Emily Allen provided some spark to the offense in the fourth inning. Allen hit her fifth home run of the season to draw Linfield within three runs before a bases-loaded wild pitch allowed Darian Stedman to score from third base.
 
The game's pivotal play came in the fifth when Makenna Clizer delivered a grand slam home run, turning a 5-3 Pacific lead into a 7-5 Linfield advantage.
 
In the sixth, Pacific's Haley Kodama doubled to right field Kaitlynn Donaca was driven home on a. Linfield countered with two runs in the bottom of the inning when Melanie Oord singled to right field, plating Jessica Swiger and pinch runner Jocelyn Newton.
 
Trailing by three runs in the seventh, the Boxers kept the heat on the Wildcats. Hailey Miller sent a home run over the left-field wall, a two-run blast that trimmed the score to 9-8.
 
No Wildcat had more than one hit. Allen scored twice and drove in two runs. Darian Stedman drew two walks and converted both free passes into runs.
 
Kodama, Donaca, Nicole Martinez, Katelyn Macatis-Smith and Trisha Snydar all had two hits to carry Pacific at the plate.
 
Wildcats starter Shelby Saylors (13-5) allowed 10 hits but earned the pitching victory nonetheless.
 
Alyssa Burns, the Boxers' starting pitcher, was saddled with the loss, despite a solid performance in the circle. She held the Wildcats to four hits but walked five.
 
GAME 2: Pacific 6, Linfield 0
 Getting plenty of run support, Pacific righthander Erin Shick pitched a four-hit, complete-game victory to lead the Boxers past the Wildcats in the nightcap.
 
Pacific outhit Linfield 13-4. Swiger went 2 for 2. Stedman and Paige Smotherman accounted for Linfield's only other hits.
 
Montana Vaught went 3 for 4, scored twice and drove in three runs. Donaca also generated three hits and drove home a pair of runs. Jill Uyeda went 2 for 3.
 
Vaught put the Boxers on the scoreboard with a solo home run in the second inning.
 
Pacific loaded the bases on Wildcats starter Eliza Rossman with two outs in the sixth. But Kiana Kushiyama popped out into the glove of Cheyenne Fletcher in center field, ending the inning.
 
The game remained a one-run affair until Pacific strung together five runs the top of the seventh. Miller singled down the right-field line, buying just enough time for Macaitis-Smith to score. That was followed by a single from Marcee Nakamura and a two-run double from Vaught to make the score 4-0. The Boxers tacked on two more runs after that when Donaca drilled a double deep to center field.
 
Though she logged no strikeouts in seven innings of work, Shick kept the Wildcats off the base paths. She gave up four hits and walked three, improving to 4-0. Rossman absorbed just her second defeat of the season, falling to 15-2.
 
Next
Linfield plays its final home doubleheader Saturday when the 'Cats host the Lewis & Clark Pioneers at noon. Linfield's six graduating seniors will be honored prior to introductions as part of Senior Day activities starting at 11:45.