Linfield University plays its final non-conference doubleheaders against Whitworth on Saturday and Sunday at Del Smith Stadium. First pitch is scheduled for 12 noon at Saturday and 11:30 a.m. on Sunday.
 
COVERAGE
Per Northwest Conference policies, all Linfield athletic events are restricted to student-athletes, coaches and game-day staff. A live statistics feed is available, as well as a video webcast produced by the Linfield Sports Network and featuring Joe Stuart on the call.
 
THE WILDCATS
Linfield is off to a 7-1 start thus far this season and is ranked No. 6 in the NFCA Top 25 rankings. The Wildcats' offense leads the Northwest Conference in scoring with 6.75 runs per game and stands second with an on-base percentage of 0.429. Emma Podliska and Baily Paul are tied for second in the conference with eight RBIs.
 
The pitching staff has the lowest ERA in the conference (1.75). Maddy Podnar and Tayah Kelley have combined to start every game this season. Podnar is fifth in the conference with an ERA of 2.42 and third with 17 strikeouts. Kelley is the conference leader with an ERA of 1.11. She also leads the NWC in strikeouts (25) and wins (4). The Myrtle Creek, Oregon is this week's NWC Pitcher of the Week, her second honor in three weeks.
 
THE PIRATES
Whitworth is 2-6 to start the 2021 campaign. All eight of their games have come against a pair of Division II opponents - St. Martin's and Northwest Nazarene - beating each team once.
 
As a team, the Pirates have compiled the second-highest batting average in the conference (0.310). Heather Menzer is hitting .577, second-best in the conference. The Whitworth pitching staff is lead by Drea Schwaier-Wolf, who leads the conference with three complete games and is 10^th in the conference with an ERA of 3.40.
 
THE SERIES
Linfield is 68-16 all-time against Whitworth, including a 7-3 mark over the last 10 meetings.
 
UP NEXT
Northwest Conference play for Linfield starts at Pacific during the weekend of March 20-21. First pitch on March 20 is scheduled for 12 p.m. and the March 21 doubleheader is scheduled for 11 a.m.