NEWBERG, Ore. – Linfield continued its early season mastery of opponents in Game 1 of its Northwest Conference opener with George Fox on Saturday before settling back to the reality of the growing pains of a still evolving softball team with a loss to the rival Bruins in the nightcap at Morse Field.
 
The third-ranked Wildcats rode the pitching of ace Tyler McNeley's nine strikeouts to a 7-1 win in the first game, but absorbed their first defeat of 2026 in the nightcap, 10-2 in six innings.
 
GAME 1: Linfield 7, George Fox 1
McNeley raised her season record to 3-0, scattering three hits while conceding just a single walk to the hosts.
 
Linfield's bats contributed 13 hits, including three by Lexiss Antle and two each from Meara Sain, Cydney Hess and Kaia Young. Sain smacked a two-run homer in the top of the third inning that sparked a four-run spurt, putting the Wildcats soundly in control.
 
Bruins starter Allison Heater (0-1) went the distance in the circle for George Fox. She walked two Wildcats and allowed five earned runs but failed to record a single strikeout.
 
GAME 2: George Fox 10, Linfield 2, 6 innings
The Bruins scored seven runs across the fifth and sixth innings to turn a close game into a rout.
 
McKenna Parmelee hit a home run and Sain added a double. Breanna Bartek, Young and Keira Sullivan all were credited with base hits for the Wildcats, who were limited to five total hits.
 
Linfield starter Destiny Cornwell (2-1) took her first collegiate loss. She allowed four hits, four walks and three earned runs over four innings. Lacey Vasas came on in relief and did not fare any better, giving up six runs, four hits, four walks in two innings of work.
 
NEXT
The series continues Sunday at 11 a.m. on the Bruins' home field, completing the four-game set.
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