Linfield softball had a successful weekend, taking down both Pacific University and Lewis and Clark College in doubleheaders March 16 and 17.
In the games against Pacific University, the Wildcats won the first game 1-0 and second game 10-2.
During game one, junior Karina Paavola pitched a complete game, earning her sixth win of the season.
The sole run of the game was scored by freshman outfielder Kristen Vroom, who scored from second because of a fielding error caused by a ground ball from junior Katy Brosig.
Pitching and defense kept the offenses in check, holding both teams to multiple innings without runs or hits. Each team had one error.
In the second game, the Wildcats offense outpowered the Pioneers by a score of 10-1.
Junior Shelby VandeBergh pitched four solid innings, allowing one run, two strikeouts and three hits.
The Wildcats came out firing, scoring two runs in the first by sophomores Grace Middelstadt and Lisa Yamamoto.
In the second inning, Catball tripled the score with four more runs. Yamamoto hit a two-run home run during her second plate appearance, scoring senior Megan Wallo.
A sac bunt from senior Karleigh Prestianni in the fourth inning sent Middelstadt straight to home, giving the Wildcats their seventh run of the game.
In the sixth, sophomore Montana McNealy hit a home run, scoring the last run of the game and securing the Wildcats’ victory.
Due to high chances of rain in the weather forecast, the Wildcats moved their doubleheader to start at 10:30 a.m. against Lewis & Clark College on March 16.
Even with the rain, the Wildcats blasted six home runs throughout the afternoon, moving themselves into first place in the conference standings.
In game one, the Wildcats slammed the Pioneers 11-1.
Prestianni and junior Ashley Garcia hit two home runs, keeping the Wildcats’ lead against the Pioneers.
Prestianni’s homer in the second allowed Catball to score three more runs. The Wildcats had 11 hits throughout the game. The Pioneers were only able to have three off of Paavola.
Paavola had a no-hitter going through the first four innings, but the Pioneers disrupted Paavola’s dominance in the fifth with a single. Two singles later, the Pioneers scored, ending the shutout for Paavola.
In game two, the Wildcats beat the Pioneers in shutout fashion, 15-0.
VandeBergh pitched her first career no hitter, and retired all batters except for the leadoff batter, which she hit.
Junior Haylie Watson and Yamamoto both hit two home runs each in the first three innings of the game.
By the end of the first inning, the Wildcats had secured a solid lead with seven runs.
The Pioneers remained hitless, while the Wildcats raked in a total of 14 hits, with the help of two errors.
Brosig also had two hits during the game.
Yamamoto had six RBI and went three for three, scoring three runs for Catball.
The Wildcats will next face La Verne College in a doubleheader during their visit to Southern California at 2 p.m. March 20.
Ivanna Tucker
Sports editor
Ivanna Tucker can be reached at
