McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Freshman Jenny Ball's clutch double in the late innings of Game 2 allowed Linfield to cap a doubleheader sweep of Whitworth on Saturday, part of a non-conference four-game set between the two of the Northwest Conference's perennial heavyweights.
 
The sixth-ranked Wildcats improved to 9-1 for the season. Whitworth, still finding its way under first-year coach Bob Castle, slipped to 2-8.
 
Kamryn Apling had four hits to lift Linfield offensively.
 
Maddy Podnar and Jordan Bennett earned the pitching wins. Podnar recorded a career-high nine strikeouts in the series opener.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 9, Whitworth 4
Linfield scored in bunches, netting three runs in the second, fourth and sixth innings to run past Whitworth in the opener. The Wildcats accounted for just six hits but took advantage of four Whitworth errors, two of which led to eventual runs.
 
Podnar logged her third pitching victory of the season with a breakthrough nine-strikeout performance. Throwing 118 pitches, the senior left-hander lasted 6 1/3 innings before turning the game over to Jordan Bennett, who held the Pirates without a hit the rest of the way.
 
Apling went 2 for 3 at the plate and scored a run, and Kelsey Wilkinson and Katrina Johns both drove in a pair of runs to carry the 'Cats to the win.
 
Whitworth ace Drea Schwaier-Wolf was saddled with the loss, falling to 1-4. She struck out just two Wildcats while walking four.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 5, Whitworth 4
Ball's first collegiate at-bat was an important one. The freshman from West Salem entered the contest in the sixth inning in pinch-hitting role and came through with a two-run double to put Linfield ahead to stay.
 
Ball's clutch hit and two RBIs were part of a three-runsixth inning, enabling Linfield to push past Whitworth for the one-run victory in the nightcap.
 
With her team trailing by two runs, Abi Proffitt delivered an RBI single to center field, drawing Linfield to within striking distance at 4-3.
 
A sacrifice by Kamryn Mobley positioned runners at second and third, setting the table for Ball's game-winning double.
 
Bennett (2-0) picked up the pitching win off the bench, coming in relief of Wildcats starter Tayah Kelley in the sixth.
 
Apling, Johns and Proffitt all had two hits to pace a nine-hit Linfield attack.
 
Whitworth got a pair of hits from Heather Menzer and Brynn Radke drove in two runs.
 
AHEAD
The Wildcats and Pirates complete their four-game non-conference series Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 11:30 a.m.