Linfield faces its toughest test of the season Friday and Saturday when the Wildcats host streaking Texas Lutheran in a best-of-three NCAA Division III Super Regional tournament at Del Smith Stadium.
 
The fifth-ranked Wildcats (38-6-1) square off against the eighth-rated Bulldogs (33-7) at 4 p.m. Friday in the opening game of the series.
 
TLU brings a 12-game winning streak into the Super Regionals that includes back-to back wins over No. 6 Birmingham-Southern and No. 2 East Texas Baptist during last weekend's Regional round.
 
FOLLOW THE ACTION
Linfield is producing live video webcasts of all regional tournament games.  Live statistics are also available.

McMinnville Oregon Super Regional Schedule
Game 1: Friday, May 17, 4 p.m.
Game 2: Saturday, May 18, 1 p.m.
Game 3: Saturday, May 18, 3:30 p.m., if necessary
 
WHAT'S AT STAKE
The eight Super Regional champions advance to the NCAA World Series, May 23-28, at Tyler, Texas. A double-elimination format will also be used there with the last two teams remaining facing off in a best-of-three series to determine the national champion.

A LOOK AT LINFIELD
The Northwest Conference champion Wildcats stretched their current winning streak to six with a three-game sweep at the Claremont California Regional. Darian Stedman hit .636 in regional play while breaking the Linfield single-season record for doubles. Her 25 doubles moved her past Alex Hartmann, who hit 21 two-baggers in 2009. Makenna Clizer hit .500 for the weekend on her way to all-tournament honors.
 
Shelby Saylors picked up a pair of wins and Tanna Benson the other pitching victory in California. With her 22nd win of 2019, Saylors pushed her career victories record to 81.
 
Led by Kelsey Wilkinson's 23 stolen bases and 20 more from Stedman, the Wildcats have been effective running the base paths, swiping 87 bases in 98 attempts.
 
Linfield has made a habit of getting off to strong starts in games, outscoring opponents 66-12 in the first inning. The Wildcats are known to finish strong, too, owning a 7-1 record in games decided by one run and a 33-1 mark when leading after four innings.
 
Linfield comes into the Super Regional with an all-time NCAA playoff record of 70-30. In addition to this spring's regional title, the Wildcats have secured regional championships in 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, and 2018. This is the third time Linfield has reached the Super Regional round, implemented in Division III five years ago. The Wildcats won at Decorah, Iowa, in 2015 but losing falling short last season at Tyler, Texas.
 
Batting Average
Darian Stedman .415
Katie Phillips .389
Chelsea Horita .386
 
Home Runs
Paige Smotherman 12
Katie Phillips 10
Abi Proffitt 10
 
ERA
Maddy Podnar 1.00
Tanna Benson 3.05
Shelby Saylors 3.95
 
Strikeouts
Shelby Saylors 124
Tanna Benson 37
Eliza Rossman 9
 
Stolen Bases
Kelsey Wilkinson 23
Darian Stedman 20
Maddy Colson 18
 
 
A LOOK AT TEXAS LUTHERAN
The Bulldogs come into the McMinnville Super Regional with a 33-7 overall record and a 21-1 mark in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. TLU won the Marshall Texas Regional, taking down Birmingham-Southern and East Texas Baptist to punch their ticket to the McMinnville Oregon Super Regional. TLU and Linfield have never met on the softball diamond previously. This is the first time the Bulldogs have reached a Super Regional, though they have made five regional appearances and been regional runner-up four of those times. 
 
Coach Wade Wilson has been with the Bulldogs since 2011. In his time at TLU, he has led the Bulldogs to five consecutive SCAC championships and made five straight trips to the NCAA Division III regional tournament. Wilson and his staff earned SCAC Coach of the Year honors in five consecutive seasons. In seven years with the Bulldogs, Wilson has amassed a 242-58 (.807) overall record and an 108-2 mark (.982) in the SCAC.
 
Kelly Jurden leads the Bulldogs in batting average as she is hitting .475 in 118 at bats. She also leads the team in stolen bases with 51. Another threat in the box for TLU is Casey Martin, who comes into the tournament with the second-highest average on the team, .450, and is second in RBI with 28. Kayla Oliveira is the Bulldogs' go-to in the circle, throwing 104.1 innings in 20 starts. Oliveira has a 14-3 record and a 1.14 ERA. Texas Lutheran's No. 2 on the rubber is Chassety Raines. She has a team-best 0.99 ERA in 49.1 innings pitched and 10 starts. Raines comes into the tournament with a perfect 8-0 win-loss record. 
 
Batting Average
Kelly Jurden .475
Casey Martin .450
Madisyn Cates .385
 
Home Runs
Cassie Roach 5
Erica Garcia 4
Kassie Maddox 2
 
ERA
Chassety Raines 0.99
Kayla Oliveira 1.14
Kelsie Stone 2.05
 
Strikeouts  
Kayla Oliveira 76
Chassety Raines 18
Kelsie Stone 11
 
Stolen Bases
Kelly Jurden 51
Cassie Roche 25
Casey Martin 23