McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Eighth-ranked Linfield outscored Northwest Conference foe Willamette 17-0 on the way to a pair of run-rule shortened softball victories Saturday at Del Smith Stadium.
 
Meara Sain went 5 for 7 at the plate, driving in four runs and scoring twice to lead the Wildcats offensively. Ashlyn Aven, McKenna Parmelee and Keira Sullivan all blasted home runs, and Wildcat baserunners were a perfect 13 of 13 on stolen base attempts, including three thefts each by Kaia Young and Breanna Bartek.
 
Linfield raised its season record to 8-2 and 4-2 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 6-10 overall and 3-3 in NWC play.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 8, Willamette 0, 5 innings
Tyler McNeley pitched a two-hit victory to open the four-game series, raising her season record in the circle to 5-1. The junior righthander fanned six Bearcats and walked two.
 
Sain went 3 for 4 to lead an 11-hit offensive thrust by the Wildcats. Lexiss Antle added two hits and an RBI. Linfield stole seven bases in the contest, including two by Young.
 
Linfield plated three runs in the second inning, starting with a two-run single by Sain and ending with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch that scored pinch runner Mia Heigh.
 
Sullivan added to the Wildcats' advantage, drilling her first collegiate home run to straight-away center field in the fourth, pushing the score to 4-0.
 
Parmelee's double in the fourth added two more runs and was followed by an RBI single by Young that scored Parmelee, giving the Wildcats a decisive 7-0 lead.
 
The game was halted in the fifth inning by the eight-run rule. Cydney Hess drew a bases-loaded walk, sending Kya Lindell to home plate from third base for the winning run.
 
GAME 2: Linfield 9, Willamette 0, 5 innings
Sain and Aven each pounded three hits in the game to power the Wildcats to another abbreviated win over the Bearcats.
 
Destiny Cornwell was solid in the circle on the way to her third win of the season. The freshman righthander from nearby Sherwood limited Willamette to three hits and one walk.
 
Linfield pushed across three runs in the first inning, highlighted by back-to-back home runs by Aven and Parmelee. The second inning saw Linfield extend its lead to 7-0 as Aven, Hess and Sain each took turns driving in runs. The Wildcats padded the score in the third on a two-run single by single.
 
Conwell (3-1) struck out the final two Bearcat batters to end the game.
 
AHEAD
The Wildcats and Bearcats meet again on Sunday for a doubleheader to complete the four-game set. Action gets underway at Del Smith Stadium starting at 11 a.m.
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