McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield set a program record with its 36th consecutive win of the season, and the second-ranked Wildcats held the neighboring George Fox Bruins to just a single run on the way to a Northwest Conference doubleheader sweep Sunday at Del Smith Stadium.
The Wildcats (36-0, 24-0 NWC) blanked the Bruins 12-0 in the home-run heavy, five-inning opener, then methodically took apart their rivals 4-1 in the nightcap.
Linfield eclipsed the program's standing record of 35 straight wins set by the 2011 national championship squad, which finished the season with a then-NCAA record 51 wins.
Standing at 18-18 and 11-13 in the NWC, George Fox's hopes of qualifying for the NWC Tournament took a major blow. The Bruins face second-place Lewis & Clark in a four-game series next weekend to wrap up the regular season.
GAME 1: Linfield 12, George Fox 0, 5 innings
Claire Seats hit her team-leading 10th home run and drove in seven runs to lead the Wildcats to the lopsided victory in the opener.
Linfield set the tone early, ringing up four runs in the first inning. Seats drilled a two-run double down the left-field line, sending
Kaili Saathoff and
Cydney Hess sprinting for home and a quick 2-0 Linfield lead.
Seats scored moments later, just beating the tag at home plate after a sacrifice by
Ashlyn Aven. The Wildcats made it 4-0, cashing in on a Bruins' fielding error.
Seats lofted a sacrifice RBI in the second and
Brynn Nelson followed with a two-run double off the outfield wall, extending the Linfield led to 6-0.
The wheels came off the Bruins' wagon in the third as the Wildcats blasted three home runs on consecutive at-bats, each coming with two outs. First, Seats stepped to the plate and delivered a grand slam home run, her tenth roundtripper of the season. Nelson and Jacey Leyas then launched balls out of the ballpark, giving the 'Cats a 12-0 lead.
George Fox notched its first hit of the game in the fifth as Nicole Campa doubled to right field to break up the Wildcats' bid for a no-hitter.
Bruins starter Emma Eastman was forced to exit the game due to injury in the second, replaced by Madelyn Loughary. Eastman took the loss, despite pitching just one inning. Loughary, in relief, surrendered seven runs, six hits and two walks.
Linfield outhit George Fox 12-1. The top five hitters in the Linfield order all finished with two hits in the game.
The Bruins committed two errors while the Wildcats were spotless defensively.
Wildcats ace
Tayah Kelley earned her 22nd win of the season. She struck out seven Bruins over four innings before giving way to
Tyler Warden.
GAME 2: Linfield 4, George Fox 1
Wildcats starter
Tyler McNeley paired with Kelley to strike out eight Bruins. After McNeley held George Fox scoreless through four innings, Kelley came on in relief to close out the game, earning her third save of the year. McNeley pocketed the win, improving to 14-0. Kelley held the Bruins to just a single hit while fanning six.
Linfield plated four runs in the third inning, starting with a bases-loaded walk issued by Bruins starter Kiley Harris. Seats made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single, then Nelson doubled to drove home two more.
Saathoff went 3 for 4 and scored one run, and Nelson drove in two runs for the 'Cats.
Sydney Sandifer accounted for George Fox's lone run of the afternoon, swatting a solo home run over the left-field wall in the sixth inning. The Bruins were held to three hits.
AHEAD
Linfield has already sewn up the NWC championship and the right to host the NWC Tournament, May 3-5 at Del Smith Stadium. Pairings will be finalized next weekend.
