SPOKANE, Wash. – Linfield pitchers
Tayah Kelley and
Tyler McNeley tossed matching complete-game shutouts on Saturday, helping the Linfield Wildcats begin Northwest Conference play with a pair of solid road victories over the Whitworth Pirates at Diana Marks Field.
The third-ranked Wildcats raised their season record to 8-0 and 2-0 in the NWC, blanking the rival Pirates 4-0 in the opener and 10-0 in the nightcap. Linfield extended its series win streak over Whitworth to 15 games.
GAME 1: Linfield 4, Whitworth 0
Making her 90th career start, Kelley spun a four-hit, 10-strikeout gem to raise her season record to 5-0.
The Linfield offense provided Kelley with ample run support, taking a 3-0 lead after in the third inning and never looking back. The 'Cats amassed 11 hits in the game, with the first five hitters in the lineup all finishing with two hits.
Cydney Hess doubled and drove in two runs and
Meara Sain scored three times. Her triple down the right-field line in the sixth inning led to a run-scoring single by
Kaili Saathoff, putting the finishing touches on the Wildcat scoring.
Reagan Ellis went 2 for 3 to lead Whitworth at the plate. Pitcher Corinne Vasiloff (2-5) went the distance in the circle for Whitworth, striking out four and walking three Linfield batters.
GAME 2: Linfield 10, Whitworth 0
McNeley fanned three Pirates and walked one on the way to her third pitching victory of the season against no losses.
Linfield plated four runs in the first inning, thanks to a two-run double by
Claire Seats and a single to center field that scored two more runs.
The game remained scoreless until the sixth inning, when the Wildcats erupted for six runs.
Sydney Ries, Hess,
Kyla Cross and
Ashlyn Aven all contributed RBIs in the frame.
Nelson led all Linfield hitters with two base knocks.
Pirates starter Momi Lyman took the loss to fall to 2-5. She surrendered six hits and four walks in 6 1/3 innings of work.
Heather Montoya had two of Whitworth's three hits in the contest.
NEXT
Linfield and Whitworth return to Diana Marks Field on Sunday to complete the four-game NWC series. Action begins at 11 a.m.
