McMINNVILLE, Ore. –
Kya Lindell and
Meara Sain each had four hits, and
Breanna Bartek tapped three hits and stole a pair of bases to power Linfield past visiting St. Benedict (Minn.) Thursday afternoon at Del Smith Stadium.
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Ranked seventh in the most recent NFCA Top 25 coaches poll, Linfield advanced its season record to 14-2. Unranked St. Benedict saw its record move to an even 8-8 as the Bennies completed a six-game spring swing through Oregon.
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GAME 1: Linfield 4, St. Benedict 1
McKenna Parmelee went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs and Sain added a pair of base hits for the Wildcats, who outhit the Bennies 9-4 in the opener.
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Tyler McNeley improved her season record to 6-1 in the circle. She struck out six Bennies, walked three and did not allow an extra-base hit.
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Lily Treml, Olivia Tautges, Cat Smetana each notched singles for the CSB.
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Bennies starter Ellie Peterson (3-5) took the loss. She walked four batters and struck out a pair of Wildcats.
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Linfield plated two runs in the third and sixth innings. Both teams were charged with two errors in the contest.
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GAME 2: Linfield 9, St. Benedict 1
The Wildcats jumped in front with three runs in the first inning and stretched their lead to 4-0 in the second on Sain's RBI single. After the Bennies added a single run in the third, Linfield plated four more runs in the fourth, highlighted by
Cydney Hess's two-run home run, her fifth of the season.
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Sain and Hess each drove home three runs and pounded a pair of hits for the 'Cats.
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Linfield pitcher
Destiny Cornwell held St. Benedict to just three hits, though two went for home runs to Olivia Tautges, who moved atop Division III-statistics with her seventh and eighth roundtrippers of 2026.
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CSB starter Olivia Wallace (3-2) suffered the loss. She went four innings, allowing nine hits, seven earned runs and one walk while striking out just two batters.
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AHEAD
The Wildcats fly to Los Angeles Friday in preparation for doubleheaders Saturday at Whittier and Sunday at La Verne, both starting at noon.
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