The 2021 Northwest Conference championship is going to be decided in the four games between the George Fox Bruins and the Linfield Wildcats this week. The first two games are in Newberg, Oregon on Friday and the last two are at Del Smith Stadium on Monday afternoon.
 
SENIOR DAY
The Wildcats will honor graduating seniors Kamryn Apling, Maddy Podnar, Amanda Reser, Shakayla Snyder, Riley Sykes and Kelsey Wilkinson prior to today's first game.
 
NWC TOURNAMENT SCENARIOS
The winner of the Northwest Conference regular-season championship will be decided over the course of four games between the Bruins and the Wildcats. Whichever team claims the regular-season championship will host the NWC Tournament, a three-day, four-team event that determines the conference's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
 
Linfield must win at least three of four games during the pivotal series to secure its third straight league title. George Fox clinches the regular season title by winning two or games this series.
 
George Fox has reached the NCAA playoffs twice in its history, most recently in 2018, when the Bruins and Wildcats shared the title. George Fox is the only NWC program other than Linfield or Whitworth to claim an NWC championship over the last 17 years.
 
COVERAGE
The Bruins are providing live statistics and live video for the games at Morse Athletic Field. Live statistics and a live video webcast produced by the Linfield Sports Network with Joe Stuart on the call is also available for the games at Linfield.
 
THE WILDCATS
Linfield won three of four games over Willamette last weekend. All three wins for the Wildcats came via the eight-run rule. Linfield slugged nine home runs in the series, including seven on Saturday.
 
Hitting two home runs each for the Wildcats were Katrina Johns, Kamryn Mobley and Katie Phillips. Kelsey Wilkinson and Abi Proffitt also contributed solo home runs. Emma Podliska hit a grand slam as well.
 
Phillips and Wilkinson are tied for the NWC lead with 51 hits each. Phillips is third in the NWC with a batting average of .425 and fifth with 33 RBIs. Wilkinson leads the conference with 29 stolen bases. Proffitt is fourth in the NWC with 34 RBIs.
 
Baily Paul has 31 RBIs which is seventh, Podliska is ninth with 30 RBIs and Mobley is 10^th with 29 RBIs. Kamryn Apling has drawn 27 walks, which leads the conference, her on-base percentage of .548 is second.
 
Freshman Tyler Warden made her first career start on Saturday and threw a five-inning no-hitter. Tayah Kelley leads the NWC with 14 wins and 92 strikeouts. Maddy Podnar is second with an ERA of 2.78. Jordan Bennett has made 13 appearances as a relief pitcher, she has an ERA of 2.50.
 
THE BRUINS
George Fox swept the four-game series against Whitworth last weekend. The Bruins have hit 67 home runs this season, which leads NCAA Division III, their team slugging percentage of .595 is tops in the NWC. George Fox's pitching staff has posted an ERA of 2.92 this season, which is also first.
 
Claire Fountain has hit 16 home runs and driven in 48 RBIs, both figures lead the conference. She has a batting average of .418, which is fifth. Katie Ladd and Savannah Vargas have hit 12 home runs and Kamryn Potter has hit 11, all three are in the top-five in the NWC.
 
Ashley Davis is the conference's ERA leader and wins leader. She has an ERA of 2.43 in her 14 wins and is second with 80 strike outs. Sarah Storton has an ERA of 3.36, which is fourth in the conference and she has eight wins, which is fourth.
 
UP NEXT
The Northwest Conference Tournament is next for the Wildcats. The dates and the location of the tournament will be finalized following Monday's games.