McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield pitching ace
Tayah Kelley struck out 11 batters and held Whitworth to three hits, and
Baily Paul went 4 for 4 and drove in five runs for the Wildcats, who made a bold statement in a 13-4 five-inning victory over Pirates in the opening game of the Northwest Conference Tournament Friday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium.
Kelley raised her season record to 21-3 in the circle, recording her fifth straight start with at least nine strikeouts.
Paul had the Midas touch at the plate, smacking three singles plus a double to raise her season batting average to .424.
After Whitworth took a 2-1 lead on Heather Menzer's solo home run in the top of the second inning, Linfield answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame and followed that up with six more runs in the sixth.
The Wildcats finished with 15 hits on the day, including Paul's four base knocks. The senior outfielder drove in five runs and scored two times herself.
Katie Phillips went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
Katrina Johns,
Jacey Leyvas and
Abi Proffitt all chipped in with two hits each.
Though Kelley confined the Pirates to three hits, two of them went for home runs, giving the Pirates early hope of pulling an upset of the NWC regular-season champions.
Pirates starter Corinne Vasiloff lasted just 1 1/3 innings. She gave up five hits and five runs to the hot-hitting Wildcats. Vasiloff (14-13) and relievers Momi Lyman and Annie Brose managed just one strikeout against the Wildcats.
Jazz Johnson homered in the fourth inning and Haley Montoya added a single to pace the Pirates at the plate.
AHEAD
The double-elimination tournament, which determines the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs, continues Saturday at Del Smith Stadium. The Wildcats (34-7) advance to play the winner of Friday's late game between George Fox and Pacific Lutheran. That game will begin Saturday at 2:30 p.m.. Whitworth (25-16) fell into a noon elimination game against the late game's loser.
