McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
Kamryn Apling,
Makenna Clizer and
Katie Phillips all hit home runs to carry the Linfield Wildcats past the Pacific Boxers, 10-2 and 3-0, Sunday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium.
Linfield, ranked No. 3 in the most recent NFCA Top 25 poll, improved its season record to 10-0 and 4-0 in the Northwest Conference. Pacific dropped to 4-11 overall, 0-4 in the NWC.
GAME 1: Linfield 10, Pacific 2, 6 innings
Phillips hit a three-run home run in the fifth inning, driving home the winning run in game that was shortened to six innings by the eight-run rule. Clizer blasted her fourth home run of the season in the first inning to put the 'Cats in control from the get-go.
Phillips went 3 for 3, scored three runs and drove in two other runs to carry the 'Cats offensively. Apling smacked two doubles,
Kelsey Wilkinson singled twice and
Chelsea Horita nailed a triple to fuel a 10-hit Linfield attack.
Maddy Podnar picked up her second pitching victory of the weekend and fifth of the season. The junior southpaw allowed eight hits and two walks but kept the Boxers without a run until the sixth inning.
Linfield scored in bunches, getting two runs in the first, then four runs each in the fifth and sixth innings to send the Boxers to defeat.
Pacific starter Carly Bursch (0-3) took the loss. She lasted 4 1/3 innings before turning the game over to reliever Cheyenne Datan.
Katie Macaitis-Smith and Hailey Miller both tapped two hits for Pacific.
GAME 2: Linfield 3, Pacific 0
The nightcap began as a pitchers' duel between Linfield freshman
Jordan Bennett and Pacific senior Morgan Masters.
After three scoreless innings, Linfield went in front 1-0 in the fourth, cashing in on a Pacific error and an RBI double by
Baily Paul.
The Boxers threatened to tie the game in the top of the sixth, advancing pinch runner Dayce Riberal to third base with two outs. But Hannah Williams dribbled a grounder into the glove of
Chelsea Horita, who threw to first base to end the inning.
Masters limited Linfield to just two hits through five innings. But the Wildcats doubled that total with consecutive at-bats in the sixth. Phillips singled with one out and Apling followed with a lofting home run to right field that put the 'Cats in front 3-0.
In the seventh, Pacific loaded the bases with one out, but Kate Macaitis-Smith and Montana Vaught each popped out to left field for the final two outs.
Masters (2-4) struck out two Wildcats, walked one and allowed five hits.
Bennett (3-0) scattered six hits and a walk, striking out one batter in a complete-game victory.
For the Wildcats, Paul went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Phillips, Apling and Horita also logged hits.
Miller and Nicole Martinez were responsible for two hits each for the Boxers.
NEXT
Linfield heads to Tucson, Arizona, for six games at the NFCA Leadoff Classic. The Wildcats open against Emerson and Berry on Friday, then square off with Piedmont and St. Benedict on Saturday. The Wildcats face NCAA Division III runner-up Emory followed by Division III champion Texas Lutheran on Sunday.
