SALEM, Ore. – Freshman Cydney Hess drilled three doubles and scored twice, and Katie Phillips smacked a three-run triple, part of a 12-hit barrage unleashed by the ninth-ranked Linfield Wildcats on the Willamette Bearcats in the first game of a four-game set Friday afternoon at the WU diamond. The game began 45 minutes late, then lasted two hours and 12 minutes, the result of an unpredictable weather system that brought vacillating rain and snow showers throughout the contest.
 
With the series opener taking more than an hour longer to play that expected, Friday's Game 2 was postponed until Monday due to the lack of stadium lights at Willamette.
 
The game was scoreless until the Wildcats notched two runs in the fourth inning. Brynn Nelson's sacrifice enabled pinch runner Natalie Brinda to score what would end up being the winning run. Ashley Sutton then delivered a ground out RBI that scored Hess from third.
 
Phillips made it 3-0 in the fifth, scoring an unearned run from third base on a throwing error.
 
Linfield plated seven runs in the seventh inning to win going away. The flurry included a three-run triple by Phillips, plus RBIs by Katrina Johns, Ashley Sutton and Ashlyn Aven.
 
Wildcats starter Tayah Kelley limited the Bearcats to just two hits, striking out 11 batters while yielding just a single walk. Kelley remained unbeaten with her fourth shutout of the season, raising her record to 10-0. 
 
WU pitcher Jordyn Johnson (4-5) went the distance in the circle. She managed just two strikeouts while surrendering four walks and six earned runs.
 
AHEAD
Linfield returns to Salem on Sunday to battle the Bearcats in a doubleheader starting at noon. Monday's makeup game is set to begin at 1 p.m.