Looking to stave off elimination and advance to the 2011 Division III championship game, the Linfield Wildcats knocked off the Texas-Tyler Patriots 7-1 in the national semifinals.
 
Wildcats freshman Karina Paavola was steady in the circle for the Wildcats, working four innings and allowing four hits and one run. Lauren Harvey pitched a perfect three innings of relief to secure the win, part of a stellar pitching rotation throughout the 2011 season.
 
Jaydee Baxter continued her fantastic postseason hitting display, logging two hits and two RBIs. Haylie Watson added two more hits and a pair of RBIs as the 'Cats rung up nine hits on the day.
 
Linfield got the scoring going in their first appearance at the plate in the first. A single by Kayla Hubrich put a runner on base, and with two outs, Emily Keagbine hit a screaming line-drive to the left side. The ball deflected off the shortstop and into left field, allowing Linfield to score the game's first run.
 
The Patriots quickly answered with a run of their own in the top half of the second before both pitchers really settled in.
 
The Linfield offense caught fire in the bottom of the fourth. The Wildcats were able to accumulate six hits in the inning and with the help of a defensive error, plated six runs in the frame.
 
A double by Alex Hartmann gave the purple and cardinal a one-run lead. Hayley Watson struck a single through the left side to score two more runs, opening up the flood gates. Baxter hit the second double of the inning to push two more runs across and stretching the Linfield lead to 6-1.
 
The final run of the inning came on a Staci Doucette single to give Linfield a six-run cushion. Head coach Jackson Vaughan wasted no time in bringing in Harvey to close the door on the Patriots and send the Wildcats to the title game against Christopher Newport.