SALEM, Ore. –
Baily Paul tapped three hits and stole three bases, leading the Linfield Wildcats to a lopsided 13-1 Northwest Conference victory Sunday over Willamette on the Bearcats' home field.
Sunday's second game of the scheduled makeup doubleheader was suspended by rain in the top of the fifth inning with Linfield leading 5-3. It will be resumed Monday at 1 p.m. at the WU diamond, ahead of the rescheduled Game 4.
On Sunday, seven Wildcats were credited with more than one hit in the run-rule shortened game, including three each by Paul and
Katie Phillips.
Linfield held a modest 4-1 lead entering the fifth inning, before the Wildcats delivered the knockout punch with a six-run scoring burst. The game-clinching inning included singles by Phillips,
Katrina Johns,
Ashley Sutton and
Ashlyn Aven.
While the Wildcats were piling up 18 hits, pitchers
Tayah Kelley and
Mackenzie Burke were combining for seven strikeouts while limiting the Bearcats to just five hits. Kelley earned the starting assignment, raising her season record to 11-0.
The Wildcats were a terror on the basepaths, stealing successfully nine times. In addition to Paul's three thefts,
Kaili Saathoff had two stolen bags while
Tiani Wayton,
Katrina Johns,
Brynn Nelson and
Jordan Bennett also came away with stolen bases.
Linfield, ranked No. 9 in the most recent NFCA Top 25 coaches poll, improved to 16-2 overall and 6-0 in the NWC. Willamette dipped to 13-11 and 8-6 in conference play.
