By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Mia Lund (So., CF, Omaha, NE/Westside HS) of Willamette University went 2 for 6 overall and earned a hit in both games, but nationally-ranked Linfield University swept a Northwest Conference doubleheader from the Bearcats, 4-0 and 4-2, on Friday, Feb. 25, at Del Smith Stadium. Both teams were opening NWC play.
Linfield entered the game ranked #20 in the NCAA Division III Preseason Poll released by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA). The Wildcats improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the NWC, while the Bearcats dropped to 2-5 on the season, 0-2 in the NWC.
Lund was 1 for 3 in both games. In the second game, she scored one run and recorded one RBI. She is hitting .300 for the season and leads Willamette with seven runs scored.
The Bearcats will take on the Wildcats in another NWC doubleheader on Sunday in McMinnville. First pitch is set for 11 a.m. (PST).
Wildcats Score in First Two Innings in Game 1
In Friday's first game, Linfield scored early with two runs in the first inning and two runs in the second inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the first, Kamryn Mobley was hit by a pitch, stole second, and scored on a single by Katrina Johns. Claire Seats followed with a double to left field that brought Johns across the plate. With one out in the second, Brynn Nelson received a walk and gave way to pinch-runner Tiana Wayton. Emma Podliska was hit by a pitch, moving Wayton to second. With two outs, a double-steal put the runners at second and third before Katie Phillips hit a 2-run double to center.
Willamette managed just two hits in the opener. Lund singled to right with two outs in the first inning. She stole second, and reached third on a passed ball, but was left on base when Linfield pitcher Tayah Kelley forced Bailey Hillmick (Sr., DP/UT, Athena, OR/Weston-McEwen HS) to ground out. Cora Erickson (So., C, Issaquah, WA/Issaquah HS) began the third inning with a single to left. Kelley prevented Erickson from rounding the bases by earning outs against the next three batters.
Kelly improved to 3-0 with the complete-game win. She struck out eight batters and did not allow a walk. On offense, the Wildcats had five hits -- one each by five players --- during the game. WU starting pitcher Carrie Dose (So., P/1B/3B, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS/Buena Vista Univ.) fell to 0-1. Kenna Davis (Fy., 3B/SS/P, Alameda, CA/Alameda HS) pitched the last four innings for the Bearcats and held Linfield without a run or a hit, while striking out four batters and giving up no walks.
Bearcats Lead 2-0 after 3 1/2 Innings in Game 2
Willamette plated two runs in the opening stanza of the second game. Brianna Majors (Jr., SS/2B, San Diego, CA/Cathedral Catholic HS) walked to begin the game. Jewel Fleckenstein (Jr., UT, Wasilla, AK/Mat-Su Middle College School) advanced Majors to second with a sacrifice bunt. Lund belted a single to center field to drive home Majors. Lund moved to second base on the throw home. A passed ball sent Lund to third base and she scored on a ground out by Hillmick.
The Bearcats maintained their 2-0 advantage through the middle of the third inning. Linfield cut the margin to 2-1 in the bottom of the third. Johns singled with one out and Wayton pinch-ran. After Wayton stole second base, Seats hit an RBI single to left field and advanced to second on the throw. Seats went to third base on a wild pitch, but Jordyn Johnson (So., P, Winslow, AZ/Winslow HS) ended the threat with a strikeout and a ground out.
Linifield tallied the game's final three runs in the fifth inning. The Wildcats put together four hits during the stanza, including an RBI single by Jacey Leyvas, an RBI ground out from Mobley, and an RBI double by Johns.
Jenny Ball singled to shortstop and stole second to open the frame. Leyvas drove in Ball with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Haley Gutierrez. A sacrifice bunt by Baily Paul sent Gutierrez to second. Phillips hit an infield single, and then a double steal put the runners at second and third. Mobley drove in Gutierrez with a ground out to shortstop and Johns brought in Phillips with a double to center.
Johns was 3 for 3 in the second game for the Wildcats. No other player on either team had more than one hit.
Hailey Wadsworth pitched a complete game for Linfield as she improved to 2-0. She allowed six hits and both runs. She earned three strikeouts and walked one batter. Johnson, 1-3, tossed all six innings for the Bearcats and gave up eight hits. She registered two strikeouts and did not allow a walk.
