McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Shelby Saylors spun a two-hit shutout and the Linfield Wildcats blanked the George Fox Bruins 6-0 in the opening game Friday of the Northwest Conference Softball Tournament at Del Smith Stadium.
 
Linfield plays the winner of Friday's other first-round game between Pacific and Whitworth Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
 
Saylors fanned nine Bruins and walked none in crafting her 18th pitching victory of the season.
 
Back-to-back singles in the sixth inning marked the Bruins' best opportunity to score but Alissa Gonzalez flied out into the glove of Darian Stedman to close the frame.
 
Paige Smotherman and Maddy Colson each drove in a pair of runs to pace Linfield. Smotherman hit her 11th home run of the season to lead off the sixth, putting an exclamation point on the Wildcats' 34th win of the year.
 
Bruins starter Sarah Storton took the loss in the circle. She lasted just one-plus innings, surrendering two hits and two earned runs before being replaced in the second inning by Caitlyn Rhoades.