McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Leaving no doubt as to their qualifications for the NCAA Division III softball playoffs, the Linfield Wildcats rolled through the Northwest Conference Tournament on Sunday. The Wildcats' 8-0 blanking of NWC runner-up Lewis & Clark capped a 3-0 run through the four-team, double-elimination tournament, clinching the program's seventh consecutive and 12th overall NWC Tournament title.
Linfield (38-5) now awaits the NCAA's Monday morning announcement of the full 64-team playoff field. The complete tournament bracket will be revealed during the annual Selection Show Monday at 8 a.m. PDT on NCAA.com. Lewis & Clark (31-11), enjoying its best softball season in program history, also remains hopeful of receiving its first-ever NCAA playoff invitation.
Linfield All-American
Claire Seats drove in four runs, including her 20th home run of the season, and Linfield scattered eight hits against a trio of Lewis & Clark pitchers to put the game away early. The Wildcats plated five runs in the first inning to open up a commanding lead in the championship game and never looked back after that.
Linfield pitching ace
Tyler McNeley tossed a four-hit shutout, her third victory of the tournament, raising her season record to 25-2. Lewis & Clark starter Maggie O'Leary (20-8) was pulled from the game before recording a single out after the Wildcats pushed five runs across the plate. Reliever Ryan Jurischk didn't fare much better in after that against the red-hit Linfield bats, giving up four hits and three earned runs as the Pioneers fell behind 8-0 after just two complete innings.
