ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. – Wrapping the Pioneer Classic with a perfect 6-0 record, Linfield registered two more victories on Sunday, topping 25th-ranked Washington-St. Louis 5-3 before posting a 9-6 come-from-behind win over Spalding (Ky.) Sunday at the Elizabethtown Sports Park.
The Wildcats, ranked 11th in the most recent NFCA Top 25 coaches poll, extended their current win streak to 10 games while raising their season record to 14-2.
Hitting a collective .408 over the six games, the 'Cats outscored their tournament opponents 58-10. Linfield pitchers posted a combined 1.89 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 37 innings of action while holding opposing batters to a .176 average.
Linfield 5, Washington-St. Louis 3
With starting pitcher
Tayah Kelley keeping the Bears at bay for six innings, the Wildcats steadily built a 5-0 advantage. But Spalding plated three runs in the seventh before the Wildcats slammed the door shut by tagging runner Katie Gould out at second base and forcing Erin Reardon to foul out for the final two outs of the game.
Baily Paul went 3 for 3, drove in two runs and stole three bases to lead Linfield offensively.
Kaili Saathoff went 2 for 4 with a double.
Katie Phillips also drove home a couple of runs.
Kelley earned her eighth pitching victory of the season and 54th of her career. She struck out seven batters and walked two.
Linfield 9, Spalding 5
The Wildcats found themselves in a hole early on as the Golden Eagles tallied four runs in the bottom of the first inning. Linfield eventually clawed its way back to within one run, 5-4.
A five-run burst in the sixth inning, fueled by RBIs from Saathoff,
Claire Seats and
Cydney Hess, carried the 'Cats to victory. Kelley, pitching in relief of starter
Tyler Warden, struck out all three Spalding batters in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory in Linfield's favor.
Warden raised her season record to 5-1. She scattered eight hits across six innings, striking out three while issuing no walks.
Saathoff continued her early season tear, leading Linfield with three hits, three runs scored, two RBIs and one stolen base.
Hess and
Katrina Johns each tapped two hits in the game. Seats drove in three runs. Phillips doubled and scored two runs.
As a team, the Wildcats logged 11 hits and five stolen bases.
Spalding closer Michaela Ferman suffered her first defeat in the circle this season. She pitched the final two frames, giving up three hits and four runs, only one of which was earned. Spalding fielders were charged with four errors while Linfield played error-free defense behind Warden and Kelley.
COMING UP
Linfield resumes Northwest Conference play on Friday when the Wildcats visit the Willamette Bearcats for a doubleheader Friday starting at 2 p.m. The series continues Sunday with a twinbill on the Bearcats' diamond starting at noon.
