McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield inched one step closer to securing its second straight Northwest Conference championship, defeating challenger Whitworth 5-0 in the opening game of a Sunday doubleheader at soggy at Del Smith Stadium.
 
Game 2 was suspended by rain in the sixth inning with Whitworth leading 4-2 and Linfield bringing the heart of its order to the plate. The game will be resumed as soon as it is convenient to both teams.
 
Linfield (25-4-1, 18-1 NWC) ran its win streak to 11 games while handing Whitworth (20-8, 14-4 NWC) its third setback of the four-game NWC series.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 5, Whitworth 0
Home runs by Abi Proffitt and Maddy Colson, together with a six-strikeout performance from Shelby Saylors, proved to be the difference in the opener.
 
Saylors held the Pirates without a run for the second game of the series, scattering six hits and allowing no walks in recording her 14th pitching win of the season.
 
Linfield broke the ice in the second inning when Paige Smotherman doubled deep to center field and Proffitt followed with a towering home run, putting the 'Cats up 2-0.
 
Colson gave the Wildcats some breathing room with her third home run of the season, a three-run blast in the fourth that plunged the Pirates into a 5-0 hole.
 
Colson and Smotherman each had two hits for the 'Cats. Kelsey Wilkinson, Darian Stedman and Chelsea Horita also tapped singles in the game.
 
Whitworth starter Drea Schwaier-Wolf absorbed the loss in the circle for the Pirates. The freshman pitched four innings, allowing six hits, including the two game-altering home runs.

GAME 2: Whitworth 4, Linfield 2, suspended, rain
Whitworth scored first in the third inning when Rheanne Lewis' single to center bought Logan Miller enough time to score from third base. The Wildcats prevented the Pirates from making it 2-0 when catcher Kamryn Apling tagged out Lewis on a pinpoint outfield throw from Wilkinson. Sara Gayer gave the visitors a 2-0 lead with an RBI single to center that allowed Kaylie Lowery to score.
 
Linfield tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on Makenna Clizer's double to the right-field wall.
 
Getting three straight singles to begin the fifth, Whitworth loaded the bases with no outs. Kinsey McNaught laced an RBI single and the Pirates made it 4-2, adding a bonus run on a fielding error by Saylors.
 
The game was halted with no outs in the sixth inning with Darian Stedman owning a 3 balls, no strikes count on Pirates pitcher Madelyn Carlson.

 
Next
Linfield hits the road for a four-game series Saturday and Sunday at Pacific University. First pitch both days is set for noon at Judy Sherman Stadium in Forest Grove.