McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield rallied from a four-run deficit to defeat Lewis & Clark 10-6 in the opening game of the Northwest Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium, but the Pioneers held the fourth-ranked Wildcats' offense in check en route to a 4-2 win in the nightcap.
 
The loss snapped Linfield's 55-game regular-season NWC winning streak, moving the 'Cats to 17-1 in the NWC and 27-3 overall. Lewis & Clark improved to 23-7 overall and 15-5 against conference opponents.
 
In the weekend series, Wildcats pitching ace Tyler McNeley led Linfield with three wins in three starts. Topping the offensive statistics for the week were Cydney Hess (.556, 2 home runs, 3 RBI), Claire Seats (.500, 2 doubles, 3 home runs, 7 RBI), and Ashley Sutton (.400, 1 home run, 5 RBI).
 
GAME 1: Linfield 10, Lewis & Clark 6
The Wildcats spotted the Pioneers a four-run lead before rallying to pull off a resounding victory in the third game of the series.
 
Seats went 2 for 4 in the game with both of her hits clearing the fence, raising her season home run total to 15.
 
With Lewis & Clark clinging to a 5-3 lead in the fifth inning, Seats cut the deficit to one run with a leadoff home run. Eventually, Linfield loaded the bases on L&C reliever Maggie O'Leary, setting the table for Sutton's back-breaking grand slam home run that put the hosts in command.
 
Wildcats pitcher Tyler McNeley (17-1) gave up 10 hits to the opportunistic Pioneers, but held her ground to record the victory nonetheless. The sophomore righthander struck out five batters and walked two.
 
O'Leary (12-5) pitched the final 1 1/3 innings in relief of starter Ryan Jurischk. O'Leary allowed three hits and one walk but gave up the grand slam home run to Sutton.
 
Linfield piled up 13 hits in the contest, including three by Sain and two each by Hess, Seats and Sutton.
 
L&C leadoff hitter Gina Ozuna went 3 for 3 and scored a pair of runs. Madison Scroggins and Rosenbach also added two base hits for the Pios.
 
GAME 2: Lewis & Clark 4, Linfield 2
Linfield opened up a 2-0 lead in the early innings only to watch as Lewis & Clark scored the winning run in the top of the seventh to halt the Wildcats' 55-game NWC regular-season winning streak.
 
Trailing 2-1, the Pioneers advanced Sam Gildersleeve to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Cami Restagno. Gildersleeve went on to score the tying run on a fielder's choice when Caeleigh Rosenbach reached safely, tying the game at 2.
 
The game remained tied until the seventh. That's when Gildersleeve blasted a leadoff home run over the center field wall. Moments later, Rosenbach singled and advanced to second on the throw. Emily Patton then drove home pinch runner Katie Ingersoll with a double through the left side, giving the Pioneers the game-clinching 4-2 advantage.
 
Lewis & Clark outhit Linfield 10-6. Scroggins went 3 for 4 while Gildersleeve was 2 for 3 with a pair of runs scored.
 
O'Leary (13-5) earned her first win of the series after two consecutive defeats at the hands of the Wildcats.
 
Brynn Nelson was credited with two of the Wildcats' five hits in the game.
 
Linfield starter Tyler Warden (8-2) took the loss. She surrendered 10 hits across seven innings with two strikeouts.
 
AHEAD
Linfield heads to Tacoma on Wednesday for a makeup doubleheader at Pacific Lutheran. Action begins at noon on the PLU campus.
 
After playing PLU, the Wildcats embark on a four-game NWC series in nearby Newberg against Yamhill County rival George Fox. Saturday's doubleheader starts at noon. Sunday's twinbill begins at 11 a.m.
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