McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The Linfield softball team will take a break from Northwest Conference play to face some tough competition at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia.
 
The Wildcats enter the week at 6-1 overall and 3-0 in NWC play after taking three all three games against Willamette last week. The team's only blemish was a 12-8 loss at Whittier on Feb. 19.
 
The reigning NWC Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week, junior Tayah Kelley threw two complete-game shutouts against the Bearcats with a combined 15 strikeouts. She tossed seven innings in a 4-0 win on Friday, allowing two hits while striking out eight. She went the distance in a five-inning 8-0 win on Saturday, allowing three hits to go with seven strikeouts. Kelley is 4-0 on the season with a 0.29 ERA.
 
Senior left fielder Katie Phillips opened NWC play by going 5 for 9 with three runs and six RBI against the Bearcats. She went 3 for 3 in the third game with a two-run home run in the first inning and a two-run double in the third. Senior shortstop Katrina Johns leads the team with a .600 batting average and 12 RBI while junior third baseman Kamryn Mobley has scored seven times.
 
The tournament begins on Friday with the Wildcats playing the SCIAC's Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (3-5, 2-1 SCIAC) in a big West Region bout before taking on Manhattanville (0-0) later in the day. The Wildcats are 21-9 against the Athenas all-time and have won five straight meetings, including a doubleheader sweep in Claremont during the 2020 season. This will be the first meeting between Linfield and Manhattanville.
 
Action continues on Saturday against Coe (0-0) and Illinois Wesleyan (0-0). The 'Cats took both meetings with the Kohawks, winning 5-2 back in 2006 and 7-3 at the 2018 NFCA Leadoff Classic in Tucson, Arizona. The 'Cats swept a doubleheader with the Titans during the 2012 season. The Titans came back in 2019 to shut out the 'Cats 7-0 in Clermont, Florida.
 
The tournament will close on Sunday with the 'Cats going head-to-head with Salisbury (10-0) and Transylvania (3-0). This will be the first time that Linfield will play either team.
 
Linfield entered the season ranked No. 20 in the NFCA Preseason Coaches Poll. Salisbury was ranked No. 8 in the poll while Coe was among the seven teams that received votes.
 
Conference play will resume on March 12-13 as the 'Cats welcome Whitworth into town for a four-game series at Del Smith Stadium.