After winning the first two games of their series with Lewis and Clark on Saturday, Wildcat softball dropped game three 6-4, but was able to win game four 5-1 and the series, three games to one.

Pitcher Maddy Dunn, ‘19, and the Linfield defense allowed two early runs in the fi innings of game three, putting the Wildcats (8-6, 16-9) in the deficit early on.

Dunn would throw three and one-third innings, allowing five runs off six hits. On one run would be recorded as earned, due to six Linfield errors. Dunn’s record stands at 7-3.

Linfield was able to cut into the Pioneers (3-10, 9-16) lead in the third with a sacrifice bunt by Cheyenne Fletcher, ‘18, to score Maddy Colson, ‘19 from third.

The Pios answered right back in the top of the fourth, with a three run spurt. Largely due to costly errors by the Wildcats, Lewis and Clark stretched the score to 5-1.

“The series went well with 3 wins giving us a push in conference with all the split series going on within the entire conference,” Mikaela Viloria, ‘17, said.

After scoring a run in the fifth to make the score 5-2, the ‘Cats were able to put together a small rally in the bottom of the sixth to make the score 5-4.

With two runners on, Kenzie Schmoll, ‘18, doubled to score Jenn Hiatt, ‘19. On the next play, Alissa Buss, ‘18, scored from third off a Lewis and Clark error to make it a one run game.

In the top of the seventh, the Pios were able to pad their lead thanks to a solo home run by Hannah Dal Pra.

The 6-4 lead was an insurmountable deficit for the Wildcats, who were not able to rally in the bottom of the seventh.

In the loss, Linfield left 12 runners on base, six in bases loaded situations.

Despite the sloppy play in game three, Linfield was able to play well behind the strong pitching of Shelby Saylors, ‘19.

Saylors allowed only on run off seven hits, and had a shutout through six innings. Saylors pitched all seven innings, her fourth complete game of the years, and improved her record to 7-2.

Linfield was able to be the first team to score in the final game, going up 2-0 in the bottom of the second inning.

An RBI double by Fletcher scored Schmoll, and then Fletcher was able to score off a sacrifice fly by Emily Allen, ‘17.

Linfield stretched their lead to four in the fourth, when Alex Andreotti, ‘18, scored when Dal Pra, playing second base, overthrew first base on a routine grounder hit by Jacinda Swiger, ‘18.

The second run of the inning came when Buss grounded out to second, but was able to bring home Allen from third.

Linfield’s final run came when Abi Drotzmann, ‘19, in the game as a pinch runner, scored from third, being brought in by Schmoll for her second RBI of the game.

The Pios only run came in the top of the sixth when Jenai Rojo hit an RBI double to score Emily Drevdahl, for the final score of 5-1.

Linfield’s three wins moved them up from sixth place in the conference to fifth, jumping Pacific and putting them one game behind Pacific Lutheran.

“As a team we need to continue developing our confidence as not only individuals, but as a unit. We have a an extreme amount of talented athletes, and once we start believing in ourselves we will be dangerous,” Viloria.

With only seven games left in the season, Linfield travels to Tacoma to play Pacific Lutheran next weekend. Their next home game is on April 6, in a makeup contest against Willamette.