McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield pitchers Shelby Saylors and Tanna Benson combined to hold Puget Sound to four hits and one run in an abbreviated Northwest Conference doubleheader sweep of the Loggers Saturday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium.
 
Saylors kept Puget Sound without a run during a 11-0 first-game romp that was shortened to five innings by the eight-run rule. Benson followed by tossing a three-hitter in the nightcap, a game Linfield won 9-1, also in five innings.
 
Linfield (4-1-1, 2-0 NWC) continued its mastery of Puget Sound on the softball diamond, recording the program's 50th and 51st straight victories over the Loggers (2-9, 0-2 NWC).
 
GAME 1: Linfield 11, Puget Sound 0, 5 innings
Freshman Katie Phillips hit her first career home run and scored three times to push the Wildcats to the lopsided win.
 
Makenna Clizer and Darian Stedman each knocked a pair of hits to help pace a nine-hit Linfield effort at the plate.
 
Linfield pushed across two runs in the first inning as Clizer singled to right field, scoring Kelsey Wilkinson and Katie Phillips.
 
The Wildcats struck for three more runs in the third. Clizer smacked a run-scoring double, Stedman singled to left field to drive in Clizer then scored herself on an error by Loggers shortstop Maddie Colombo.
 
Clizer and Phillips both finished with three RBI. Stedman drove in two runs and scored twice.
 
Saylors (2-1) tossed a one-hit shutout, earning her 61st career pitching victory. Kelsie Sullivan took the loss for Puget Sound, dropping to 1-3.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 9, Puget Sound 1, 5 innings
Eight different Wildcats logged base hits as the Wildcats outhit the Loggers 8-3. Smotherman drilled a triple in the third inning, and Wilkinson and Stedman both blasted home runs to lead the offensive assault.
 
Benson improved her record to 2-0 in the circle, striking out one Logger and walking three. Puget Sound's Sullivan (1-4) started the game and was saddled with the loss, eventually giving way to relievers Maddy Garcia and Noelle Kerr.
 
Kaitlyn Webster scored Puget Sound's lone run in the top of the fifth when Marissa Oda drew a bases-loaded walk.
 
Next
The NWC series between the Wildcats and Loggers continues Sunday with a doubleheader starting at noon at Del Smith Stadium.