Linfield Defeats TLU Before Weather Halts Winner-Take-All Game

Linfield Defeats TLU Before Weather Halts Winner-Take-All Game

(Portions of this story taken from both the Texas Lutheran University and Linfield College Sports Information Departments) 

MCMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Texas Lutheran and Linfield College will resume the NCAA Division III Softball Super Regional in McMinnville, Ore. at noon pacific / 2 p.m. central Sunday.

The winner-take-all third game of the series is tied at 2-2 in the top of the fifth.

TLU and Linfield each have won a game in the Super Regional. TLU won 6-5 in 10 innings on Friday, and Linfield won 9-7 in the first game Saturday. In Saturday's game, the Wildcats trailed TLU 1-0 and 2-1 until breaking through for four runs in the fourth inning to go on top 5-2. The Bulldogs responded with two runs in both the fifth and sixth frames, taking a 6-5 advantage heading to the seventh. TLU's scoring surge included back-to-back home runs by Kassie Maddox and Cassie Roche in the sixth, chasing Linfield starter Shelby Saylors from the game.
 
In the seventh, Linfield's Abi Proffitt and Chelsea Horita picked up RBIs as the 'Cats went back in front, 7-6. Paige Smotherman gave the Wildcats a bit of breathing from with a two-run single to right-center field.
 
TLU refused to go away quietly. An RBI single by Madisyn Cates pulled the Bulldogs to within two runs, 9-7. But with TLU runners positioned at second and third base, Linfield reliever Maddy Podnar struck out Kali Chatham and coaxed a ground out from Maddox to end the game.
 
Podnar, a sophomore lefty, earned her first collegiate win in relief of Saylors, who gave up seven hits and two walks over 5 2/3 innings.

For Texas Lutheran, Skylar Ouellette went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored while Rebecca Snow finished with three hits in four trips to the plate with a run batted in a run scored. Roche's home run was her team-leading sixth of the season and Maddox's was her third. Kelly Jurden added her 53rd stolen base of the season.
 
Linfield outhit TLU 10-9, while both teams committed three errors and each stranded seven runners.

The winner of the Super Regional advances to the NCAA Division III Softball World Series in Tyler, Texas.