McMinnville, Ore. - (From Linfield Sports Information Office) Whitworth had the unenviable task of opening its 2009 Northwest Conference schedule at six-time defending champion Linfield. The powerful Wildcats swept the Pirates on Friday by scores of 9-1 (six innings) and 8-0 (five innings). Game 1: Linfield 9, Whitworth 1 (6 inn.) - complete box score The ‘Cats pounded a dozen hits, including four by Lepp, who scored twice and drove in two other runs. Linfield led 1-0 after the first inning following a RBI single by Lepp. The Wildcats then plated four runs in the second, including another RBI hit by Lepp, and the Wildcats led 5-0. Whitworth got on the scoreboard in the top of the fourth inning when Ashley Carey launched a home run over the left-center field wall, cutting the deficit to 6-1. The Wildcats added to their cushion in the bottom of the frame as Emily Keagbine sent a triple to the wall and Lauren Harvey pushed home Keagbine with a single up the middle. A sacrifice fly by Keagbine that allowed Lepp to score from third provided the final margin. Strahm earned the win, striking out four Pirates without a walk while scattering four hits. Reliever Claire Velaski held the Pirates hitless over the final inning. Jessica Mangis went the distance while taking the loss for the Pirates. Game 2: Linfield 8, Whitworth 0 (5 inn.) - complete box score Miller (1-0) tossed a one-hit victory, walking only two batters across five innings. Kayla Hubrich went 3 for 3, Rochelle Friend, Doucette, and Keagbine each had a pair of hits as the Wildcats jumped to a 3-0 lead in the first inning and never relented. Carrie Gibson accounted for Whitworth’s lone hit, a single up the middle in the first inning. Pirates starter Kelsey Ayers (0-3) took the loss. Ayers allowed 12 hits over four innings while striking out just one Wildcat. Whitworth and Linfield will complete the four-game series on Saturday with another double-header. |
