By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Willamette University led undefeated Linfield University twice in the first round of the 2024 Northwest Conference Softball Tournament, but the Wildcats won the game, 6-5 in eight innings, on Friday, May 10 at Del Smith Stadium. The Bearcats were in front 3-2 after four-and-a-half innings and owned a 5-4 advantage in the top of the sixth.
Linfield scored one run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the score. The Wildcats added one run in the eighth inning on a walk-off single with one out to secure the win. Linfield improved to 41-0 on the season with its first extra-inning win of the year. The Wildcats are ranked #1 in the NFCA Coaches Poll for NCAA Division III. Willamette fell to 17-22 overall.
Mia Lund (Sr., OF/UT, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) and Sophia Lucio (Sr., RF, Martinez, CA/College Park HS) each went 3 of 4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Lund blasted two doubles and Lucio pounded a triple. Karsen Angel (Fy., C, Albany, OR/South Albany HS) scored twice for the Bearcats. Kaili Saathoff of Linfield was 3 of 4 with two runs and an RBI. Claire Seats went 2 of 4 for the Wildcats with a run, a two-run homer, and three RBIs. Cydney Hess was 2 of 4 with a run and two RBIs.
Willamette's next game in the double-elimination tournament is scheduled for Saturday, May 11 at 2:30 p.m. PDT against Pacific Lutheran University in an elimination game. PLU lost to Lewis & Clark College, 8-3, in the other first round game on Friday. PLU is now 23-18 on the season. Linfield will play Lewis & Clark in the winner's bracket game on Saturday at 12 p.m. If Willamette defeats Pacific Lutheran, the Bearcats will take on the loser of the Linfield/L&C game at 5 p.m. on Saturday for the right to reach the championship game(s) on Sunday.
Linfield grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Saathoff hit an infield single toward third base to begin the frame. Hess flied out and Saathoff stole second base with Seats at the plate. Seats blasted a two-run homer.
The score remained the same until the top of the fifth, when Willamette plated three runs to take a 3-2 lead. Lauren Stube (Fy., C, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA/Trabuco Hills HS) walked and Angel pinch-ran. Lund doubled to center field as Angel went to third base. Lucio smacked a two-run triple to center field, sending Angel and Lund home with the tying runs. WU moved in front when Faith Collar (Jr., 1B, Portland, OR/Roosevelt HS) hit a sacrifice fly to right field, with Lucio scoring on the play.
In the bottom of the fifth Linfield plated two runs to claim a 4-3 advantage. Saathoff walked and reached second later on a wild pitch. She scored on a double by Hess, who went on to steal third. Seats connected on a single down the left field line to drive in Hess.
WU regained the lead in the top of the sixth, starting with a base hit to right by Desirae Hatfield (Fy., INF, Salem, OR/South Salem HS). With two outs, Angel walked and Hatfield went to second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch. LUnd singled to left field, driving in Hatfield and Angel, giving Willamette a 5-4 edge.
A run by Tiani Wayton tied the score for Linfield in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Wayton's fly ball to left field was dropped and she went to second. Saathoff hit an infield single to second and Wayton scored, as she narrowly beat a throw to the plate.
The seventh inning was scoreless, and the Bearcats left two runners on base in the top of the eighth after Hatfield was hit by a pitch and Kendra Knapp (Grad., RF, Portland, OR/Sunset HS) followed with a single. Harley Raymond (Jr., 1B, Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS/Columbia Basin College) grounded out to first base, with the runners moving to second and third. Another groundout ended the threat.
Wayton doubled to left field for Linfield with one out in the bottom of the eighth. Saathoff singled to third base on a bunt, leaving runners at first and third. Saathoff stole second base. Hess singled down the left field line as Wayton scored the winning run.
Linfield starter Tayah Kelley struck out seven batters, but gave up five runs in 5 2/3 innings. Reliever Tyler McNeley improved to 17-0 with the win after tossing 2 1/3 innings with no runs and two hits. Jordyn Johnson fell to 5-10 for Willamette. She struck out four batters.
