Willamette Drops a Pair at Linfield

By Sara Brooks, Assistant Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6219

MCMINNVILLE, ORE. -- The Linfield Wildcats, ranked #18 in the nation, defeated the Willamette University softball team in two games, 4-1 and 7-3, on Saturday, April

Linfield got the scoring started in the third inning of Game #1 with a two-out rally. The Wildcats strung together a single, a hit batter and two more singles to score three runs and take a 3-0 lead. Linfield added another run in the fifth, when Emilee Lepp hit a leadoff triple and later scored.

Willamette's only run came in the sixth inning, when Jessica Barry (So., OF, Cupertino, CA/Monte Vista HS) hit a single and later scored on an error by the catcher.

Claire Velaski earned the win in the circle for Linfield. Velaski threw a complete game and allowed just four hits while striking out five. She is now 12-2 for the season.

Bri Compton (Jr., P, Kalispell, MT/Wenatchee Valley CC) pitched well but took the loss for WU. Compton threw all six innings, allowing seven hits and striking out four. She picked up her second loss of the season, bringing her record to 9-2.

Willamette started off the second game strong, grabbing an early 1-0 lead thanks to a solo home run from Sierra Lessel (So., OF, Eugene, OR/Churchill HS). It was Lessel's first home run of the season.

The Wildcats responded in a big way, scored five runs in the second inning on six hits, including three doubles, to take a 5-1 lead.

The Bearcats would score two more runs in the game. Kelli Snyder (Fr., C, Longview, WA/Kelso HS) tripled and later scored in the fifth. Talissa Huntsman (So., 3B, Richland, WA/Richland HS) hit an RBI single in the seventh to score pinch-runner Miranda Abrahams (Fr., UT, Astoria, OR/Astoria HS), but the Bearcats fell short of a comeback, losing 7-3.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow (Sunday, April 18) for another doubleheader in McMinnville, Ore. The first game is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. (PDT).