McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield left no doubt about its postseason qualifications, hammering West Coast rival Redlands 14-0 and 7-0 on Friday and wrapping up the best-of-five series at the NCAA Division III McMinnville Regional at Del Smith Stadium.
With the three-game sweep of the Bulldogs, the Wildcats (44-4) advance to the Super Regionals where they will host Bethel University. Game 1 is tentatively set for Friday at 2 p.m. Game 2 will follow Saturday at 1 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, will be played Saturday 3:30 p.m. The winner will advance to the NCAA Championships, June 1-7, at Marshall, Texas.
Redlands (27-17), co-champion of the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, saw its season come to a close. The 'Dawgs went 1-4 versus Linfield this spring.
GAME 2: Linfield 14, Redlands 0, 5 innings
Tayah Kelley twirled the first of her two complete-game shutouts, holding the Bulldogs at bay throughout the contest. Striking out five while allowing three hits, the senior righthander became Linfield's all-time career strikeouts leader, surpassing former Wildcats All-American Brittany Miller's seemingly untouchable record of 632.
Kaili Saathoff pounded three hits, including a triple, and
Claire Seats and
Katie Phillips each drove home three runs, carrying the Wildcats to the lopsided victory.
Linfield built a 4-0 lead through three innings before exploding for eight runs in the fourth. The Bulldogs issued three bases-loaded walks in the frame to aid the Wildcats' cause.
Bulldogs starter Brianna Garcia took the loss to fall to 6-4. She allowed five runs and a pair of walks before being replaced by Kassidy Long to start the fourth inning.
Brooklyn Bard, Natalie Horton and Isabella Culp accounted for Redlands' four hits.
GAME 3: Linfield 7, Redlands 0
Kelley continued her one-day mastery of the Bulldogs in Friday's clinching game. She held Redlands without a hit through the first four innings before yielding a single hit to Paige Messenlehner.
With her 31st pitching victory of 2023, Kelley broke the Linfield single-season record of 30 set in 2015 by Montana McNealy. She struck out four Bulldogs and issued just a single walk.
Linfield racked up nine hits of its own. Phillips doubled twice in the game and Seats added a pair of hits for the 'Cats.
Katlyn Gandara, the SCIAC Pitcher of the Year as a freshman, took the loss to fall to 16-9. She surrendered eight hits and three walks before giving way to reliever Brianna Garcia in the fourth.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Kelley was named the McMinnville Regional's Most Outstanding Player. Joining her on the All-Tournament Team from Linfield were
Kaili Saathoff,
Katie Phillips,
Cydney Hess,
Jacey Leyvas,
Claire Seats, and
Baily Paul. Joining them from Redlands were Katlyn Gandara and Paige Messenlehner.
