Linfield University Athletics

SALEM, Va. – The matchup of two West Coast NCAA Division III softball kingpins in the opening round of the Championship Finals on Thursday featured 27 hits and 16 runs, including a five-run rally in the seventh inning by Redlands that propelled the Bulldogs to a 9-7 shocking victory over the Linfield Wildcats at the James I. Moyer Sports Complex.
 
The Wildcats fall into an elimination game Friday at 1:30 p.m. EDT (10:30 a.m. PDT) against top-ranked Virginia Wesleyan. The Marlins (50-1) dropped their first game of the season on Thursday, falling 3-2 to underdog Rowan.
 
Linfield's loss to Redlands snapped a 12-game win season streak and a five-game series victory streak over Redlands, only partially overshadowing a pair of NCAA Division III milestones established by Wildcats Meara Sain and Ashlyn Aven.
 
In addition to hitting her seventh home run of the season, Sain drilled an RBI double in the first inning to give her 33 two-bag hits for the season, matching her jersey number while tying the Division III record set by Kim Sears of Wheaton (Mass.) in 1997. Sears achieved the feat in 50 games; Sain in 49 contests. McKenna Parmelee followed Sain's double with a single to send Sain home, putting the Wildcats in front 2-0.
 
The Bulldogs evened the score with a pair of runs in the second inning, but the Wildcats answered back with Sain's seventh home run of the season, a two-run rainbow that scored Emily Foytack from second base.  
 
After Redlands pulled to within 4-3 in the fifth inning, Aven delivered a solo home run in the bottom of the frame, giving her 25 for the season and moving her up to No. 2 on the all-time Division III single-season list. She trails only the 29 homers hit by Linfield's Emilee Lepp in 2011.
 
In the late innings, the Bulldogs refused to go away quietly. A fielding error by the Wildcats in the sixth enabled Jenay Scott to score an unearned run, trimming the Linfield lead to 5-4. Lexiss Antle then delivered a single to put the 'Cats back in front by two, plating pinch runner Josie Brooks from second base.
 
The wheels came off the Wildcats' wagon in the top of the seventh. The Bulldogs reeled off seven hits and five runs on Linfield pitchers Tyler McNeley and Destiny Cornwell, including four consecutive hits, giving them a 9-6 lead.
 
Cydney Hess pulled Linfield back to within two runs in the bottom of the seventh, but the 'Cats were unable to string together anything after that, ending the game.
 
McNeley took the loss to fall to 27-5. The junior righthander surrendered 13 hits eight walks and eight runs while logging just two strikeouts.
 
Sain went 2 for 4 with three RBIs. Hess and Foytack each were 2 for 3 at the plate. Breanna Bartek, Parmelee, Kaia Young and Antle also contributed base hits.
 
Caitlynn Griffth (13-0) earned the win in the circle for Redlands. She gave up 11 hits and nine runs to the Wildcats, striking out three and walking two.
 
Leila Gomez had four hits and Katlyn Gandara added three hits to pace Redlands' 16-hit output.
 
IN OTHER THURSDAY GAMES
Defending national champion Trine (Ind.) defeated Belhaven (Miss.) 7-5. Simpson (Iowa) came from behind to beat first-time participant Mount Union (Ohio) 4-3 in Thursday's late game.

FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE
Game 5: Rowan vs. Redlands, 11 a.m. EDT / 8 a.m. PDT
Game 6: Virginia Wesleyan vs. Linfield (elimination game), 1:30 p.m. EDT / 10:30 a.m. PDT
Game 7: Trine vs. Simpson, 4 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. PDT
Game 8: Belhaven vs. Mount Union (elimination game), 6:30 p.m. EDT / 3:30 p.m. PDT
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