WHITTIER, Calif. – Outhitting host Whittier 19-3, the Linfield Wildcats rolled to a convincing doubleheader sweep Friday afternoon at Palmer Field on the Whittier College campus.
 
Linfield, ranked No. 11 in the recently released NFCA Top 25 poll, lived up to its billing, winning 9-0 in six innings and 10-2 in five innings.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 9, Whittier 0, 6 innings
Eliza Rossman pitched a one-hit shutout while Makenna Clizer and Kelsey Wilkinson each blasted home runs as the Wildcats rolled to an impressive victory in their season-opening contest.
 
Linfield plated runs in each of the first four innings in building a 7-0 advantage. Wilkinson, Katie Phillips, Abi Proffitt and Haylee Baker all tapped two hits and Wilkinson drove home three runs to pace a 12-hit Linfield attack.
 
A two-run single in the sixth inning gave Linfield a 9-0 lead, halting the game as the eight-run rule was invoked.
 
Baker enjoyed an impressive Linfield debut, going 2 for 4 with two runs scored and two stolen bases. Amanda Reser added a pair of stolen bases.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 10, Whittier 2, 5 innings
Kamryn Apling put Linfield on the scoreboard in the second inning, sending a single to left field that scored Chloe McDaniel from second base.
 
In the third, Chelsea Horita doubled to scored Wilkinson and Baker, pushing the Linfield lead to 3-0. A home run by Baily Paul added three more runs to the Wildcats' ledger.
 
Whittier cut the margin to 6-2 in the fourth after Melissa Carrasco singled down the right-field line to drive in two runs.
 
Linfield answered with four runs in the fifth. Paul reached on a bases-loaded error, allowing two unearned runs to score. Another Whittier error allowed Proffitt to push the score to 9-2 and Paul gave Linfield an eight-run cushion, scoring from third base when Apling successfully stole second base.
 
Tayah Kelley and Maddy Podnar combine to toss a two-hitter in their season debuts.
 
Paul went 2 for 3 and drove in three runs. Horita had two RBIs and a pair of hits, Apling went 2 for 3 with one RBI, and Baker was 2 for 4 with a run scored. Linfield outhit Whittier 7-2 in the nightcap.
 
NEXT
Linfield heads to Claremont, Calif., to play NCAA West Region nemesis Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday at noon.