Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Aided by a statistically bizarre inning in Game 2, the Linfield Wildcats swept a nonconference doubleheader from the Bushnell Beacons, 3-1 and 18-2, in the first-ever meeting between the two clubs Wednesday at Del Smith Stadium. The lopsided nightcap was abbreviated to five innings by the eight-run role.
 
Linfield (5-1) rolled up 18 runs in Game 2 on just six hits, a statistical anomaly that included 15 runs in the first inning alone.
 
Bushnell (0-6) was held to nine hits across the two contests.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 3, Bushnell 1
Emma Podliska had two hits and drove in a pair runs, including a solo home run in the sixth to carry the 'Cats in the opener.
 
Maddy Podnar pitched the complete-game victory to raise her record to 2-1. The junior left-hander scattered five hits and struck out five Beacons while allowing just two walks.
 
Bushnell opened up the scoring with a run in the third inning. Miranda Jensen singled to right field, then advanced to third base by way of consecutive bunt singles by Noel Balderston and Anna Cardwell. Jordan Kuykendall's subsequent single sent Jensen heading for home and the Beacons led 1-0.
 
After Katie Phillips drew walk with one out in the bottom of the third, Kamryn Apling stepped to the plate and calmly delivered an RBI double to center field to knot the score at 1. Linfield went in front 2-1 in the fourth when Emma Podliska smacked her first career home run.
 
Linfield stretched its advantage to 3-1 on Podliska's RBI single in the sixth that scored Katrina Johns from second.
 
Jensen (0-2), the Bushnell starter, absorbed the loss. She gave up six hits and three walks.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 18, Bushnell 2, 5 innings
Abi Proffitt and Amanda Reser each hit home runs, Baily Paul drove in four runs, and Katie Phillips and Kamryn Apling both scored three times to highlight an offensive landslide by the Wildcats.
 
Tayah Kelley earned the pitching win in a starting role, improving to 3-0. She fanned two batters and allowed two hits in a brief two-inning appearance.
 
The Beacons forged a 1-0 first-inning lead, cashing in an unearned run as the result of a fielding error. Bushnell's lead didn't last long.
 
In the bottom of the frame, Linfield rolled up 15 runs while logging just four hits. The Wildcats benefited from five Beacons walks, five hit batters and two errors. The game's decisive inning – which included a delay to attend to an injured Beacons player – lasted a whopping 45 minutes.
 
Linfield began the inning by the bases with no outs on pitcher Stella Turner. Johns drew a bases-loaded walk to tie the game and Podliska followed with a RBI single that scored Phillips.
 
Proffitt then came to the plate and swatted her first career grand slam off a 0-2 pitch, pushing the score to 7-1. Another bases-loaded walk – this time issued to Phillips – was followed by Apling's ground out RBI, stretching the Wildcats' lead to 10-1. A two-run single by Paul notched two more runs, and a rare two-error play enabled the Wildcats to extend their margin to 14-1. The Wildcats added one more run before the inning was complete, the last one coming on an RBI single to right field by Haley Gutierrez.
 
A bases-loaded hit-by-pitch pushed home another Linfield run in the second and it was followed by a bases-loaded error that opened the window for Apling to score from third.
 
Amanda Reser swatted her first career home run in the third inning, making the score 18-1.
 
Bushnell added its second run on a RBI single to center field in the fifth inning that scored Suzi Krstic from second.
 
NEXT
The Wildcats have the coming weekend off and are scheduled to play Northwest Conference rival Pacific Lutheran in a non-conference bout on Saturday, March 6. With spectators prohibited from attending games in person this spring, fans are encouraged to follow the Wildcats via Linfield's live video webcast and live statistics feed.