Wildcats Hit Four Home Runs in DH Sweep

Whitworth (1-7, 1-7 NWC) vs. Linfield (3/15/10) Lost 10-1 (box score) Lost 6-2 (box score)

Lacey Kerr

SPOKANE, Wash. - Linfield bats came alive on Monday as the 15th-ranked Wildcats swept Whitworth 10-0 and 6-2 in a Northwest Conference softball doubleheader at Diana Marks Field.

Linfield improved to 9-1 overall and 7-1 in the NWC after taking three of four in the series. The Pirates fell to 1-7 overall and in the NWC.

Game 1 - Linfield 10, Whitworth 1 (5 innings)
Emily Keagbine went 3-4, hit two home runs and had six runs batted in to lead the Wildcats to the win in the first game.

Keagbine drove in the first Linfield run in the top of the first with an RBI double to left-center. She then made the score 3-0 in the top of the third with a two-run homer to right.

The Wildcats broke the game open with seven runs in the top of the fifth. Keagbine's three-run homer brought home the first runs of the inning. Emilee Lepp added a two-run double later in the inning.

Whitworth finally got on the board against Linfield starting pitcher Claire Velaski in the bottom of the fifth when Kelsey Ayers singled home Sami Parr.

The game was shortened to five innings by the NCAA eight-run rule.

Velaski improved to 2-0 by allowing five hits and three walks while giving up her first run of the season in five innings. She struck out nine batters.

Alyssa Bergquist (0-3) started for the Pirates and was credited with the loss after giving up six earned runs on eight hits in four-plus innings.

Game 2 - Linfield 6, Whitworth 2
Lepp and Alex Hartmann each homered to help Linfield sweep Monday's doubleheader. Lauren Harvey went seven strong innings to pick up the win in the circle.

Jaydee Baxter singled home a run and Rochelle Friend lofted an RBI double in the Wildcats' two-run second inning. After Linfield added a run in the third, Lepp hit her home run in the fourth to increase the lead to 4-0. Hartman's two-run homer in the top of the fifth bounced off the top of the fence for a 6-0 Wildcat lead.

Lacey Kerr singled with the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth to drive in a run. Amanda Bevington rounded third on the play and then scored when Lepp's attempt to throw her out got away.

Harvey improved to 4-1 by allowing two runs, one earned, on four withs and three walks. She struck out two batters in the complete game.

Emily Harpel started in the circle for the Pirates and allowed six runs in 4.2 innings to pick up her first loss of the season. Jillian Stewart pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Bucs.

Lepp and Karleigh Prestianni had two hits apiece for the Wildcats. Kerr had two of the four Whitworth htis.

Whitworth will travel to Tucson, Arizona during spring break to take part in the Tucson Invitational. The Pirates open against Whittier College on Sunday, March 21.