McMINNVILLE, Ore. – The Linfield Wildcats appear to be peaking at just the right time.
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Junior pitching ace
Tyler McNeley spun a one-hit shutout, notching a career-playoff high nine strikeouts to lead the fifth-ranked Wildcats to an impressive 8-0 shutout of their Northwest Conference rivals, the Pacific Lutheran Lutes Friday afternoon in the winners bracket of the NCAA Division III McMinnville Regional at Del Smith Stadium. The game was halted after five innings by the eight-run rule.
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Linfield (39-6) advances to Saturday's championship game at 11 a.m. against Transylvania (34-12), which eliminated PLU in 2-1 in Friday's late game. Linfield needs to win just once in order to move on to the Super Regional round May 21-22 at a campus site to be determined by the NCAA. Transylvania must win twice to advance to the Super Regionals.
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Sophomore
Sophie Pappas, who took over the starting job at shortstop late in the season as the result of a season-ending injury to established starter
Kya Lindell, enjoyed the best game of her career, driving home three runs while going 2 for 2 at the plate. Pappas's two hits included a triple and came as part of a 10-hit landslide by the Wildcats, who found their groove against NWC Pitcher of the Year Paige Wilson. Linfield saddled Wilson with just her fifth loss of 2026, marking the junior's third straight setback at the hands of Linfield after a 21-2 start. Wilson managed just two strikeouts against the Wildcats, walking three.
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Breanna Bartek and
Lexiss Antle also contributed a pair of hits to carry the 'Cats to victory. Bartek drove in three runs and stole two bases.
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McNeley, the 2025 NWC Pitcher of the Year, turned in her finest performance of the season to raise season record to 24-4. She contained the Lutes to one hit and no walks while issuing a nine strikeouts, including five of the final six Lutes to come to the plate.
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Addy Meyers accounted for PLU's only hit in the game, that coming in the third inning.
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After losing to the Lutes three times in four regular-season games, the Wildcats have since won three straight playoff matchups.
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Friday's game was the first time Linfield and PLU have squared off in the NCAA playoffs since the teams locked horns in the 2012 Division III championship game.
