By: Amanda Dow-Allen
Sports Information Assistant
McMINNVILLE, Ore- The Lewis & Clark softball team fell to #14 Linfield in a double header of Northwest Conference play.
Game One:
Linfield scored their first run in the first inning when Grace Middelstadt walked, advanced to third on a double by Ashley Garcia, and both moved up on a passed ball scoring Middelstadt. Pioneer pitcher Hallie Knife ended the threat with two huge strikeouts.
In the bottom of the second the Wildcats used three hits and one error to score four more runs making it 5-0.
Jill Pinder came in to pitch for Knife in the bottom of the second to get a strikeout that ended the inning.
The Wildcats ran away with it in the bottom of the fourth scoring four runs off five hits. Another Pinder strikeout ended the inning.
Knife (0-1) takes the loss for the Pioneers pitching one and two-thirds of an inning giving up four hits and five runs, while walking three and striking out two. Pinder finished with two and a third innings pitched giving up seven hits, and five runs while walking two and striking out three. Montana McNealy (1-0) takes the win for Linfield.
Game Two:
Haley Robinson started the game off strong for the Pioneers reaching first in the first inning off a hit to the pitcher. She then stole second but was unable to advance any more as the inning ended off two quick outs.
The Wildcats scored four runs in the first inning powered behind a two run homer by Garcia. Two walked batters were then hit in when McKenzie Schmoll singled to center field.
Linfield struck again in the third scoring one run off two hits. In the fourth inning they produced another run off two hits and a hit batter to make the score 6-0.
In the fifth, Lindsay Yearman reached first on an error, but after two back to back outs the inning was over. Linfield scored two more runs off two hits and a few walks to win game two in five.
Robinson finished with one hit and a stolen base for the Pioneers.
Madison Hollenbeck (2-3) takes the loss for the Pioneers pitching four innings, giving up seven hits and six runs, while walking four and striking out one.
Kalin Rooney pitched an inning giving up two hits and three runs, while walking three.
The Pioneers are back in action March 1, when they head to Tacoma to play Puget Sound in a four game series of Northwest Conference play.
