FOREST GROVE, Ore. – The fourth-ranked Linfield Wildcats put on an offensive clinic Saturday afternoon at Sherman/Larkins Stadium, pounding host Pacific 11-0 and 19-1 in a pair of run-rule shortened games.
Brynn Nelson swatted home runs in each game,
Kaili Saathoff drove in seven runs on the day, and
Tyler McNeley and
Tyler Warden each picked up pitching wins for the 'Cats, who outhit the Boxers 33-8 while playing error-free defense.
The three-time defending Northwest Conference champions improved to 22-2 and 12-0 in the NWC. Pacific saw its record slip to 5-15 overall and 5-9 in NWC play.
GAME 1: Linfield 11, Pacific 0, 5 innings
Linfield plated four runs in the first inning top open up a quick advantage. A sacrifice fly by Saathoff enabled
Meara Sain to score the game's first run.
Jacey Leyvas delivered a double to left field that scored
Claire Seats, and
Cydney Hess added a two-run double minutes later.
Saathoff made the score 5-0 with a solo home run to right field in the second inning. The 'Cats then added three more runs in the third as
Tiani Wayton,
Ashley Sutton and Sain each took turns driving in runs.
In the fifth inning, Saathoff tapped a two-run single and Nelson blasted her third home run of the season, helping the 'Cats pushed three more runs across the plate to put the Boxers away.
McNeley fanned six Boxers and scattered six hits en route to her fifth shutout and 13th pitching victory of the season.
GAME 2: Linfield 19, Pacific 1, 5 innings
Warden and
Nayeli Hart combined to hold the Boxers to three hits
The Wildcats erupted for nine runs in the third, highlighted by Nelson's three-run home run to left field that put Linfield firmly in command, 12-1.
Seats and
Ashlyn Aven both added home runs in the fourth and fifth innings, respectively.
Sain, Saathoff, Nelson, Seats, Leyvas and Wayton all had two hits.
NEXT
The Wildcats and Boxers return to Sherman/Larkins Stadium on Sunday for a doubleheader starting at 11 a.m.
