McMinnville, Ore. – The Whitworth softball team was shutout by Linfield College in the opening day nightcap of the Northwest Conference Tournament. The Wildcats used two six-run innings to defeat the Pirates 12-0 in five innings at Del Smith Stadium.
Whitworth (23-19) started off the game just like its tournament opener as Linfield (35-6) junior Makenzie Hope was walked as the lead-off batter. Senior Jamie Brunner followed a ground out from junior Caylan Haehl with a single to left field, but the next at-bat turned into a double play as Brunner was tagged out running to second and senior Heather Hesselgesser was out at first.
In the top of the second, sophomore Riley Fritz hit Whitworth's second hit of the game to left center, but was stranded on first base at the end of the inning. Linfield used six hits to score six runs in the bottom of the second to take a 6-0 lead and then doubled its lead in the fourth inning when the Wildcats again had six hits that turned into six runs. The Pirates were unable to rally in the top of the fifth inning and Linfield took the 12-0 win.
Riley Fritz (14-7) took the loss in the circle, giving up six earned runs to 14 batters, while striking out two batters in 1.2 innings. Shelby VandeBergh (12-3) clinched the shutout, striking out three batters and allowing two hits and one walk to 17 batters faced.
Brunner and Fritz combined for Whitworth's only two hits of the game.
Whitworth will face Pacific Lutheran at 11:00 am on Sunday with the winner advancing to face Linfield for the championship in the double elimination tournament.
