South Oregon News

hereNo. 9 Linfield ready for makeup series at Willamette

THE RECORDS
Linfield enters the week at 14-2 overall and a perfect 4-0 in Northwest Conference play. Willamette is 13-9 on the season, which includes an 8-4 NWC mark.
 
LINFIELD AT A GLANCE
The Wildcats went 6-0 at the Pioneer Classic, picking up wins over nationally-ranked Transylvania and WashU along the way. Tayah Kelley was named the NWC Pitcher of the Week for the third time this season and the 12th time in her career after going 3-0 with 24 strikeouts in four appearances. Kaili Saathoff ranks in the NWC's top 10 with a .508 batting average, a .531 on-base percentage, 30 hits and 19 runs. Claire Seats is slugging .611 and leads the team with 19 RBI. Cydney Hess has started in all but one game this year at the corner infield positions. She's second to Saathoff with a .467 batting average to go with 21 hits.
 
WILLAMETTE AT A GLANCE
The Bearcats are coming off a 3-1 series win at Pacific. They outscored the Boxers 21-13. Most of the offensive production has come from Marykate DeLuca. She leads the Bearcats in batting average (.477), on-base percentage (.543), slugging percentage (.800), hits (31), doubles (12), walks (12) and RBI (28). DeLuca and Mia Lund are tied for the team lead with three home runs apiece. Three pitchers have thrown more than 40 innings this season. Kenna Davis is 5-2 with 34 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA in seven starts.
 
THE SERIES
Linfield boasts an 89-23 all-time record against Willamette, averaging 6.4 runs per game. The record includes a 39-15 mark in away games. The longest win streak for the Wildcats was 14 straight games between 2015 and 2019. Linfield has won seven straight meetings and 21 of the last 22 after sweeping the season series with Willamette in 2022. 

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