HILLSBORO, Ore. – Linfield ace Tayah Kelley was named the Northwest Conference Softball Pitcher Student-Athlete of the Week for the second time in as many weeks on Monday after throwing three complete games and striking out a combined 37 batters at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Columbus, Georgia.
 
With Kelley setting the tone in the circle, the Wildcats went 5-1 in the tournament and moved to 11-2 overall (3-0 NWC). She improved to 7-0 on the season with a NWC-leading 0.93 ERA and 62 strikeouts. She also leads the conference with two shutouts.
 
The junior from Myrtle Creek, Oregon, opened the tournament by striking out a career-high 15 batters in Linfield's 11-1 win over West Region foe Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Friday, allowing one run on two hits. Her 15 K's surpassed her previous best mark of 12 and is tied for fourth in program history for strikeouts in a single game.
 
Kelley claimed another 14 batters via strikeout while again allowing just one run in the Wildcats' 7-1 win on Saturday over Coe, which was among others receiving votes in the NFCA Preseason Poll. She came back on Sunday and fanned another eight batters in a 9-4 win over No. 8 Salisbury. Kelley was named to the all-tournament team for her efforts.
 
NEXT
The 'Cats are back in NWC play this week, hosting Whitworth on Saturday and Sunday at Del Smith Stadium. Saturday's doubleheader will start at noon while first pitch for Sunday's twinbill is scheduled for 11 a.m.