McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Fans returned to Linfield's Del Smith Stadium for the first time in 2021, but even with the additional boost from those in attendance, the top-ranked Linfield Wildcats had to settle for a split of their Northwest Conference doubleheader with Lewis & Clark.
With a shutout of Lewis & Clark in Game 2, Linfield coach
Jackson Vaughan picked up coaching career victory No. 700. In 20 seasons at the helm, Vaughan has amassed a career record of 700-174-2, a winning percentage of .800.
The two longtime NWC foes took turns holding the other without a run. Lewis & Clark (10-6, 6-4 NWC) blanked Linfield 6-0 in the opener before Linfield (23-3, 12-2 NWC) returned the favor, winning 8-0 in six innings.
The Wildcats entered the weekend owing a 91-8 series record against the Pioneers and had won 11 straight meetings stretching to March 2017. An masterful pitching performance by L&C freshman Alyssa Abe kept the Wildcats on their heels throughout Game 1.
GAME 1: Lewis & Clark 6, Linfield 0
Holding Linfield to five hits while striking out eight Wildcats, Abe notched the complete-game pitching victory. The Pioneers freshman raised her season record to 5-3.
L&C struck first in the top of the second inning when Kami Merrill drilled a low-line single to left field, pushing Hanna Urbach home from second base. After Olivia Brackin drew a walk to lead off the third inning, the Pioneers moved in front 2-0 on Sydney Cross's double to right-center field, scoring Brackin. Moffitt added to her RBI total with a double to left field moments later, extending the L&C advantage to 3-0.
Lewis & Clark broke the game open with a three-run burst in the fifth inning. Lily Moffitt drove in a pair of runs and pinch hitter Mari Alvarez contributed a sacrifice RBI to stretch the Pioneers' lead to six runs.
The Pioneers outhit the Wildcats 9-5 in the game. Moffitt went 3 for 3 with three RBIs. Cross added three hits, including a pair of doubles, to lead L&C.
Katie Phillips led the way for Linfield at the plate with a pair of hits, including a triple.
Kelsey Wilkinson,
Emma Podliska and
Kamryn Mobley also recorded base hits for the 'Cats.
Wildcats starter
Maddy Podnar struck out eight Pioneers but surrendered eight hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings of action. Podnar (9-2) suffered just her second defeat in 13 appearances. Reliever
Jordan Bennett limited the Pioneers to just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings.
GAME 2: Linfield 8, Lewis & Clark 0, 6 innings
Tayah Kelley struck out six batters on the way to a two-hit, complete-game shutout of the Pioneers. The Linfield sophomore boosted her season record in the pitching circle to 9-1.
Apling was the offensive catalyst, fueling Linfield's bounce-back victory with a 3-for-4 hitting performance that also included a stolen base.
Linfield opened up a 3-0 lead after four innings. In the second, Phillips lofted a run-scoring sacrifice to score leadoff hitter
Chloe McDaniel. Apling then followed with a bunt single RBI to score Wilkinson. In the fourth, a sacrifice fly by pinch hitter
Jenny Ball allowed the Wildcats to breathe a bit easier after taking a 3-0 lead.
The Pioneers' best chance to get on the scoreboard came in the fifth, but Cross was tagged out by Apling at home plate after a pinpoint throw from Phillips in left field.
Linfield added to its lead with a four-run outburst in the fifth.
Abi Proffitt started things off, drawing a bases-loaded walk. A Pioneers fielding error resulted in Apling scoring an unearned run. Podliska then drilled a two-run single to right field, stretching the Wildcats' lead to 7-0.
Baily Paul ended the game in the sixth when the eight-run rule was invoked. Paul's single to shortstop allowed Phillips to score.
Lewis & Clark was charged with a season-high three errors in the contest. Cross and Jane Wilson were the only two Pioneers to register hits in the game.
AHEAD
The Wildcats and Pioneers return to Del Smith Stadium on Sunday to complete the four-game series starting at 11 a.m.
