McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Playing its first-ever Division III softball regional on its home field after 13 previous NCAA postseason trips, the Linfield Wildcats found their comfort zone in a 10-1 five-inning romp over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Friday night in the opening round of the McMinnville Oregon Regional at Linfield's Del Smith Stadium.
 
The Wildcats (36-8) outhit the Athenas 14-2 in a game that was halted after five innings by the eight-run rule. Earlier Friday, CMS got past George Fox 6-3, leaving Linfield as the lone unbeaten squad in the three-team, double-elimination playoff tournament.
 
Notching three runs in the first, third and fifth inning, Linfield appeared as though it could do no wrong at the plate. Jacinda Swiger, Cheyenne Fletcher, Melanie Oord, Emily Allen, Darian Stedman and Chelsea Horita all accounted for two hits. Eight of nine Wildcat batters logged base hits and all nine hitters scored at least one run in the game.
 
Wildcats hurler Shelby Saylors gave CMS little opportunity to gain offensive traction. She struck out two Athenas and walked one.
 
Linfield wasted no time in taking quick command. Singles by Swiger, Fletcher, Allen and Stedman sparked a energetic 3-0 first-inning spurt.
 
The Wildcats loaded the bases with two outs in the second inning but Allen's line drive to center field was snagged on the dead run by Kawai Scanlan.
 
Stedman made it 4-0 in the third inning with a leadoff home run to center field, her ninth roundtripper of the season.
 
Makenna Clizer doubled on the next at bat and Paige Smotherman followed with a double that plated Clizer. After Linfield chased CMS pitching ace Anna Gurr to the bench, Horita drilled a single to score Smotherman, stretching the Wildcats' lead to 6-0.
 
When Oord doubled in the fourth, Allen followed with a RBI single, the Wildcats' 12th hit of the game. A two-run double by Fletcher was followed by an RBI single down the right-field line from Oord.
 
Saylors (21-5) nursed a no-hitter into the bottom of the fourth inning until Chloe Amarillo notched the Athenas' first hit with a single to left-center field. A single by Scanlan enabled Amarillo to beat the throw home, trimming the margin to 7-1.
 
Gurr absorbed the loss to fall to 19-8. She managed one strikeout but gave up nine hits and three walks in the first two innings of action.
 
In Friday's opener, Claremont-Mudd-Scripps scored four times in the first inning on the way to 6-3 win over George Fox. Brianna Halle tapped three hits and Gurr struck out seven Bruins for the SCIAC Tournament champions.
 
Saturday's schedule
Game 3: Linfield vs. George Fox, 4 p.m. Video Stats
Game 4: See scenarios below, 6:30 p.m. Video Stats

Scenario 1 (If two teams remain after Game 3)
Game 4: Two remaining teams play at 6:30 p.m. If the undefeated team wins, that team wins the regional tournament and advances to the super regional tournament;

If the 1-1 team wins, then Game 5 is played on Sunday and the winner advances to the super regional tournament.

Scenario 2 (If three teams remain tied at 1-1 after Game 3)
Game 4: No. 2 vs. No. 3, 6:30 p.m.