Game 1: Whitworth 3, Linfield 2 (Complete box and play by play)
Game 2: Linfield 11, Whitworth 0, 5 inn. (Complete box and play by play)

2006 Northwest Conference Standings

Heather Case hit her second HR of the series

McMINNVILLE, Ore. - (From Kelly Bird, Linfield SID) Despite the best efforts of the Whitworth Pirates, the Northwest Conference softball championship belongs to the Linfield Wildcats for the third straight season.

Whitworth nearly snatched the crown from the reigning champions, rallying in the seventh inning to shock the No. 11 Wildcats 3-2 in the opener, before Linfield responded with blazing bats to capture the nightcap and the title, 11-0 in five innings.

The results leave Linfield (29-8, 22-6 NWC) a game ahead of Whitworth (26-12, 21-7 NWC) in the final NWC standings. The Wildcats earn the conference's automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Whitworth is hopeful of receiving an at-large playoff berth. Pairings are expected to be announced Monday, May 8.

GAME 1
The Pirates threatened early in the contest after Heather Case doubled and advanced to third on a sacrifice by Kristin Hanson. But Wildcats' starter Kendra Strahm got Sarah Froman to ground out to end the first inning.

Whitworth put runners at first and third with two outs in the fifth, but Strahm again wriggled her way out of trouble, coaxing a grounder out of Lindsay Davis for the third out.

Pirates ace Jo Sonnett carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the fifth, but Stephanie Morgan broke up her spotless slate with a single to left field.

In the Wildcats sixth, Lisa Smith singled with one out, then Stephanie Rice delivered a chopper down the third-base line to give Linfield its best scoring opportunity of the game. Jenny Marshall sacrificed the runners over. Facing two strikes and two outs, three-time all-star Shelly Steinke drilled a line drive that ricocheted off of Sonnett, scoring both runners.

Refusing to give up, Whitworth put runners at second and third with no outs in the seventh. Case rocketed her second homer of the series to right field, touching off a celebration at home plate. The Pirates' leadoff hitter went 3-for-4 in the game.

In the seventh, Linfield went three-up and three down to end the game.

Strahm (12-6) gave up nine hits and a walk, but struck out seven Pirates.

Sonnett, the NWC leader in strikeouts, fanned seven Wildcats without a walk, raising her season record to 19-5. Linfield was held to four hits. Froman and Mandee Edwards each had a pair of hits for Whitworth.

GAME 2
Brittany Miller pitched her second complete-game victory of the series, holding the Pirates to two hits in five inning's work. Miller boosted her season record to 12-1.

Linfield jumped on the Pirates for eight runs in the first two innings.

Sonnett, the Game 2 starter, finally began to show the wear and tear of a grueling series, giving up six hits and six earned runs before being lifted in favor of Jennifer Eckhoff in the second. Sonnett saw her record fall to 19-6.

Jenny Marshall drove in the first run on a single to center field, then scored on a sacrifice fly by Amanda Attleberger.

The wheels really came off the Whitworth wagon in the second, as Sonnett gave up four consecutive base hits. By the time Eckhoff came on in relief, the Wildcats were enjoying a comfortable 4-0 lead.

Erica Hancock and Meredith Brunette each went 2 for 3. Steinke and Attleberger both drove in two runs. Eckhoff and Case accounted for the Pirates' only hits.