McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield pitchers Maddy Podnar and Tayah Kelley combined to hold Pacific Lutheran to six hits to headline a Northwest Conference sweep of the Pacific Lutheran Lutes Saturday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium.
 
Podnar raised her season record to 7-1 with a five-strikeout performance in Game 1. Kelley followed up with a two-hit shutout in the nightcap, as the top-ranked Wildcats blanked the Lutes 6-0.
 
Linfield (17-1, 6-0 NWC), which climbed to No. 1 in the NFCA Top 25 rankings earlier this week, extended its current winning streak to 15 games.
 
The Lutes (6-8, 3-3 NWC) saw its losing streak to the Wildcats grow to 11 games. PLU's last win over Linfield came during the 2017 NWC Tournament in Spokane, Washington.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 7, Pacific Lutheran 1
Maddy Podnar struck out five Lutes, including one for the game-ending out, to carry the Wildcats to the winning result in the series opener.
 
Podnar scattered four hits while earning her seventh pitching victory of the season against one loss.
 
The senior lefthander got plenty of run support up and down the lineup. Katrina Johns, Baily Paul, Abi Proffitt and Amanda Reser all tapped two base hits. Proffitt drove in three runs while Paul and Kamryn Apling each recorded stolen bases in the game.
 
The Wildcats handed PLU ace Kennedy Robillard her first loss of the season. Robillard lasted just two innings before being replaced by Z Ellis to start the third inning.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 6, Pacific Lutheran 0
Kelley was magnificent in the circle, recording eight strikeouts, no walks and no extra-base hits. The sophomore righthander raised her season record to 6-0.
 
Kelsey Wilkinson and Apling both had a pair of hits, part of an eight-hit effort by the Wildcats. Wilkinson and Paul each delivered triples in the game.
 
PLU starter Molly House was saddled with the loss. She allowed all eight hits over four innings, logging just one strikeout.
 
NEXT
The Wildcats and Lutes complete their four-game series Sunday at Del Smith Stadium starting at 11 a.m.