EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – Playing without their fallen team captain,
Kamryn Apling, the Linfield Wildcats picked up a courageous win and suffered a disappointing loss Saturday afternoon during the second day of action at the NCAA Division III Eau Claire Regional at Bollinger Fields.
Linfield carved out a hard-fought 7-5 victory over Alfred before being blanked 3-0 by Wisconsin-Oshkosh in the nightcap. The loss sent Linfield (38-8) into an elimination game early Sunday morning against Piedmont (24-12). First pitch is set for 7 a.m. PDT. The winner will play UW-Oshkosh for the championship at 9 a.m. PDT Sunday and will need to defeat the Titans twice in order to claim the regional title.
Apling was noticeably absent from her customary spot behind the plate.
The fifth-year catcher fractured a vertebrae during the Wildcats' opening-round game against Southern Maine.
UW-Oshkosh 3, Linfield 0
Maddie Fink held the Wildcats scoreless for only the second time this season, limiting the Wildcats to five hits, none for extra bases.
The game unfolded as a classic pitchers' duel between Fink and Linfield's
Maddy Podnar trading zeroes on the scoreboard through the first 4½ innings.
A Linfield fielding error in the bottom of the fifth inning enabled Titans pinch runner Sydney Rau to reach home. Acacia Tupa's sacrifice RBI opened the door for Amanda McIlhany to reach home plate, making the score 2-0. Podnar then issued two walks and gave up a base hit to Morgan Rau, loading the bases with two outs. Kailee Garstecki then drew a walk, forcing home Hannah Ritter for a 3-0 UW-Oshkosh advantage.
Trailing by three runs and down to their final three outs, Linfield attempted a comeback in the seventh.
Jenny Ball singled to lead off the inning and
Abi Proffitt followed with a bloop single to center field, parking runners at first and second base. But
Amanda Reser popped up into the glove of third baseman Ana Iliopoulo to end the game.
Fink (18-3) struck out four Wildcats and walked one to collect the victory.
Podnar (13-4) lasted 4 2/3 innings before giving way to
Tayah Kelley, who held the Titans without a run the rest of the way. Podnar walked four and gave up three hits.
Linfield 7, Alfred 5
Katie Phillips laced two doubles and a single, and
Jenny Ball lofted a three-run home run in the first inning to give Linfield a lead they would not relinquish.
After Linfield opened up a 3-1 lead on Ball's seventh homer of the year, the Saxons kept the pressure on leaving the outcome constantly in doubt. Linfield gained a bit of breathing room in the fifth inning, opening up a 7-3 lead on an RBI double from Phillips and run-scoring singles from Ball and
Katrina Johns.
Kelley (19-4) picked up her second victory of the tournament, fanning seven Saxons. She gave up 10 hits and three walks but yielded just three earned runs and working out of a bases-loaded situation in the top of the sixth inning. When Alfred again loaded the bases in the seventh, Podnar came to Kelley's rescue, striking out Saucedo and coaxing Ashley Lugo to ground out for the game's final two outs. Podnar earned her first save of the year.
The Saxons piled up 11 hits to the Wildcats' nine, but Alfred left 11 runners on base and committed three errors.
Lugo, Mya Wells, Allison O'Toole and Isabella Carrillo all had two hits to lead the Saxons at the plate.
In the morning game on Saturday, UW-Oshkosh remained in the winners bracket, eliminating Southern Maine 7-0. Piedmont knocked out Alfred with a 3-1 victory.
Sunday Schedule
Linfield vs. Piedmont, 7 a.m. PDT
UW-Oshkosh vs. Linfield/Piedmont winner, 9 a.m. PDT
