McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield freshman
Claire Seats stunned George Fox with a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning, touching off a wild celebration by the home-standing Wildcats in a winners bracket game at the 2022 Northwest Conference Tournament at Del Smith Stadium.
Linfield (35-7) advances to the championship game of the double-elimination tournament against Pacific Lutheran Sunday at noon. The tournament champion will claim the league's automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Linfield 3, George Fox 1
The game matched two of the nation's leading Division III pitchers as well as two high-powered offenses.
George Fox grabbed the early advantage with a solo home run in the top of the first inning by Claire Fountain. The game remained a 1-0 affair though Linfield had its chances, including loading the bases on Bruins all-star pitcher Ashley Davis in the fifth inning.
Kamryn Mobley popped out to close the frame, and George Fox remained in control with two innings to play.
Tayah Kelley struck out 11 batters while limiting the Bruins to five hits and a couple of walks. Kelley boosted her season record to 22-3 while moving within nine strikeouts of the Linfield single-season strikeouts record of 231 held by Montana McNealy.
Seats lofted her fifth home run of the season, part of a 3-for-4 plate performance.
Baily Paul had two hits and scored the game-tying run in the seventh.
Fountain etched her 13th home run of the season to put the Bruins in front early on, but the Bruins All-American was struck out by Kelley in each of her remaining three trips to the plate.
Davis (22-5) allowed nine hits but kept the Wildcats scoreless until the final swing of the bat. She struck out three and walked one.
