Box Score McMINNVILLE, Ore. – An intense afternoon of NCAA Division III playoff softball was interrupted by Mother Nature on Saturday afternoon as rain and wind swept Del Smith Stadium, causing the deciding game of the McMinnville Oregon Super Regional to be halted.
 
Saturday's rubber match between fifth-ranked Linfield and eighth-rated Texas Lutheran was suspended with the score tied 2-2. The game is scheduled to resume Sunday at noon PDT.
 
On Friday, Texas Lutheran edged Linfield 6-5 in a wild 10-inning affair and the Bulldogs needed to defeat Linfield just once more to earn the program's first trip to the Division III College World Series.
 
The teams gave fans their money's worth. Saturday's Game 2 of the best-of-three series was another knock-down, drag-out affair featuring three lead changes and two ties before Linfield ultimately prevailed 9-7, forcing a third and deciding contest.
 
In Game 2, the Wildcats trailed TLU 1-0 and 2-1 until breaking through for four runs in the fourth inning to go on top 5-2. The Bulldogs responded with two runs in both the fifth and sixth frames, taking a 6-5 advantage heading to the seventh. TLU's scoring surge included back-to-back home runs by Kassie Maddox and Cassie Roche in the sixth, chasing Linfield starter Shelby Saylors from the game.
 
In the seventh, Abi Proffitt and Chelsea Horita picked up RBIs as the 'Cats went back in front, 7-6. Paige Smotherman gave the Wildcats a bit of breathing from with a two-run single to right-center field.
 
TLU refused to go away quietly. An RBI single by Madisyn Cates pulled the Bulldogs to within two runs, 9-7. But with TLU runners positioned at second and third base, Linfield reliever Maddy Podnar struck out Kali Chatham and coaxed a ground out from Maddox to end the game.
 
Podnar, a sophomore lefty, earned her first collegiate win in relief of Saylors, who gave up seven hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings.
 
Rebecca Snow went 3 for 4 and Skylar Ouellette was 2 for 3 and drove in a pair of runs to lead the Bulldogs offensively.
 
Smotherman, Proffitt and Darian Stedman all went 2 for 4 for Linfield, which outhit TLU 10-9. Both teams committed three errors and each stranded seven runners.