Linfield Sweeps Tech in Non-League Softball Action
McMinnville, Oregon (March 22, 2008)-- A pitching dual in the first game and a flurry of hits in the second game, Linfield took a non-league doubleheader over Oregon Tech Saturday in McMinnville. Game one went nine innings before the Wildcats pulled out the opener 1-0, then broke open a one-run game with an eight-run barrage in the second contest to win 11-2.
Ranked No. 3 in the latest AFCA coaches poll, Linfield improved to 15-1 for the season, while the Lady Owls squad saw its record fall to 12-8 overall.
GAME 1
Linfield pitcher Brittany Miller and Tech’s Jenni Bittle waged an epic pitching duel, forcing extra innings when the game remained in a scoreless deadlock after the regulation seven frames.
Linfield’s Miller improved to 6-1 this season after registering a 14-strikeout performance, while Bittle, herself an NAIA All-American, struck out eight Wildcats and dropped to 6-4.
Linfield threatened in the sixth with a single with one out. A chopper to the outfield advance a Wildcat all the way to third, but a ground out and a Bittle strikeout ended the Wildcat threat.
In the eighth, Miller yielded back-to-back singles that put runners at first and second with one out, but two Tech pop outs kept the game at a standoff.
Linfield doubled to begin the bottom of the ninth, then a sac bunt sent a Linfield runner over to third. A walk and steal put runners at second and third, setting the scene for the ‘cats game-winning hit.
GAME 2
Linfield pitchers combined for a five-hitter as the Wildcats completed the non-conference sweep over the Owls.
Linfield pounded out 12 hits in the game, shortened to five innings by the eight-run rule, after putting 11 runs across the board, compared to only two for Tech.
Oregon Tech scored both its runs in the first inning but the Wildcats followed that up by plating 11 unanswered. Three in the bottom of the first and then exploded for eight runs in the fourth against Owl starter Keri Gesner (5-4), who gave up nine earned runs and two walks.
Oregon Tech’s Sinceray Titus was the only Owl with two hits on the day, going 2-7 at the plate. Jenni Bittle was 1-3 in game two, picking up one RBI with Brittany Warren knocking in Tech’s only other run.