McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Kelly Jurden's single to left field in the sixth inning sent home the winning run, lifting the Texas Lutheran Bulldogs to an emotional 5-2 victory Sunday in the championship game of the McMinnville Oregon Super Regional at Del Smith Stadium.
 
Texas Lutheran (35-8) advances to the Division III College World Series, May 23-28, at Suddenlink Field in Tyler, Texas. The Bulldogs claimed the program's first CWS berth.
 
Linfield (39-8-1) saw one of its finest seasons on record draw to a close. The Wildcats won the Northwest Conference regular-season title, the NWC Tournament championship and added the Claremont California Regional crown to their mantle.
 
TLU's Skylar Ouellette was named the Super Regional's Most Outstanding Player. Jordaine Bishop was honored as the tournament's Most Outstanding Pitcher.
 
The deciding game of the three-game series began on Saturday but rain and wind forced action to be suspended with the scored tied 2-2.
 
Though it was outscored 3-0 on Sunday, Linfield had its chances to push runs home but couldn't get the timely hits it needed.
 
TLU plated three runs on four hits in the bottom of the sixth to take control, getting Jurden's key single to score Kassie Maddox. Martin later singled, driving home Sarah Metzer. Jurden padded the Bulldogs' lead when she caught the Wildcats' defense off guard and stole home without Linfield attempting to throw her out.
 
Linfield managed to load the bases in the seventh inning, thanks in part to a leadoff single by Shakayla Snyder and back-to-back walks issued to Darian Stedman and Abi Proffit. Facing a full-count, two-out pitch, Horita popped up into the glove of shortstop Cassie Roche, ending the game in the Bulldogs' favor.
 
Kayla Oliveira earned the victory in relief of Bishop, holding the Wildcats to three hits over the final four frames.
 
Maddy Podnar was tagged with the loss. She pitched the final 1 1/3 of the game, surrendering three hits and two earned runs.
 
Jurden went 3 for 4 while Martin and Rebecca Snow each had a pair of hits for TLU, which outhit Linfield 13-5.
 
Horita drove in both of Linfield's runs, but no Wildcat managed more than one hit.
 
So Long Seniors
Linfield's loss in the Super Regional brought to an end the playing careers of five outstanding Wildcat seniors: outfielders Darian Stedman and Maddy Colson, infielder Paige Smotherman, and pitchers Tanna Benson and Shelby Saylors. The quintent helped Linfield compile a 149-44-1 overall record over four seasons, including and 11-7 NCAA playoff record that includes three trips to the Super Regionals.
 
Statistically Speaking
Stedman led the way during the Super Regional, hitting .455 with one double, a home run, four RBI and a stolen base. Kelsey Wilkinson hit .364 and drove in a pair of runs. Shelby Saylors pitched 16 2/3 of the Wildcats' 23 innings, striking out six and walking four. Podnar came on in relief in each fo the three games, taking the pitching decision in all three contests.