The third-ranked Linfield Wildcats softball team begins Northwest Conference play at Pacific this weekend. Start time on Saturday is at 12 noon and 11 a.m. on Sunday.
COVERAGE
Live statistics as well as a live video webcast are provided for all four games by Pacific.
THE WILDCATS
Linfield went 11-1 during the non-conference portion of the schedule, winning nine straight. Most recently, the Wildcats swept a four-game series over the Whitworth Pirates, outscoring them 39-19.
The Wildcats pitching staff has an earned run average of 2.57 which leads the conference. Pitchers
Maddy Podnar (4),
Tayah Kelley (4) and
Jordan Bennett (3) are top-three in the conference in wins. Kelley and Podnar are also top-four with an ERA of 2.53 and 2.81, respectively. Podnar leads the NWC with 29 strikeouts, Kelley is second with 27.
The offense has scored 93 runs so far to lead the NWC in scoring, and the team on-base percentage of .423 ranks second among the eight NWC teams.
Emma Podliska is tied for second in the conference with 13 RBIs,
Kamryn Apling,
Baily Paul and
Abi Proffitt are seventh with 10.
Katrina Johns is also among the top-10 RBI producers with eight. The junior shortstop is also 10
th in the conference with a batting average of .429.
THE BOXERS
Pacific went 5-5 in 10 non-conference games, but against other NWC schools, the Boxers are 3-1. The Boxers are tops in the conference with 23 stolen bases. The Wildcats are second with 13.
The Boxers have a team batting average of .366, best in the conference. The pitching staff has a strikeouts per seven-innings average of 6.38. Kiana Kushiyama is the leading hitter in the conference with a .533 batting average. Montana Vaught is fifth in the NWC with 11 RBIs.
The ace of the pitching staff is Allie Hancock, who stands fifth in the NWC with an ERA of 2.83. She leads the NWC with strikeouts per seven-innings average of 8.88. Carly Busch ranks second with an average of 8.51.
The Wildcats have seven straight meetings over the Boxers and are 88-22 all-time.
UP NEXT
Pacific Lutheran is back in McMinnville for four conference games on March 27-28. First pitch on March 27 is at 12 p.m. and at 11 a.m. on March 28.
