McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
Baily Paul scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, vaulting the Linfield Wildcats to a dramatic 4-3 victory over Pacific Lutheran in the championship game of the Northwest Conference Softball Tournament Sunday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium.
It marked the eighth NWC Tournament title in 11 seasons for Linfield and coach
Jackson Vaughan, whose team earned the NWC's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs.
Wildcats pitching ace
Tayah Kelley (23-3) was a steady all game in the circle. She fanned 14 PLU batters to become Linfield's single-season strikeouts record holder. Now with 237 strikeouts this spring, the junior righthander surpassed Montana McNealy's standing record of 231 set in 2015.
At the plate,
Katrina Johns went 2 for 2 and drew a walk. Collectively, the Wildcats outhit the Lutes 9-8 and played error-free defense behind Kelley.
PLU had Linfield on its heals in the early going. In the first inning, PLU's Erin McGrath drew a full-count walk, then scooted to second base on a wild pitch. Moments later, the Casey Wright drilled a single up the middle, plating McGrath for a quick 1-0 Lutes advantage.
The Wildcats evened the score at 1-all in the fourth inning when Johns and
Abi Proffitt ripped back-to-back doubles, allowing Johns to score the equalizer.
Wright led off the PLU sixth with a solo home run to left-center field, and Shanelle Lum tapped a two-out single shortly after, scoring pinch runner Kayla Terlecki from third base.
Linfield answered with two runs of its own in the bottom of the sixth. Johns smacked a two-run homer over the left-field wall, knotting the score once more at 3.
With Linfield's Kelley and PLU's Cassidy Conrad keeping their teams in contention throughout, the Wildcats and Lutes remained tied after seven frames and moved on into extra innings.
In the bottom of the ninth, Paul singled to lead off the inning then was sacrificed to second by
Katie Phillips. As Paul stole third base, Wright, the PLU catcher, attempted to throw Paul out, but her relay sailed just under the glove of third baseman Chaella Galapon, opening the door for Paul to score the winning run.
Conrad (12-3) walked four batters and logged just one strikeout.
Wright went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to lead the Lutes offensively.
NEXT
Linfield (36-7) now awaits the announcement of the full NCAA Division III playoff field. The bracket will be revealed Monday, May 9, at 10 a.m. Pacific time on NCAA.com. Regional play at eight campus sites beginning Friday, May 13, and continuing through Sunday, May 15.
