by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Maddy Thomas hit two home runs in game one, but Linfield defeated the visiting Whitworth Pirates 9-4 and 5-4 on Saturday in a pair of non-conference softball games.

Linfield (9-1) secured wins with three-run bottom of the sixths in both games. Whitworth (2-8) trailed 6-4 entering the sixth inning in game one, but the Wildcats added on in bottom half to hold off a Pirate comeback. The Wildcats then came back from a two-run deficit in game two after putting up three runs in the sixth.

Thomas finished 3-5 with two home runs and four RBIs on the day, while Sara Gayer went 4-7 with three doubles.

Game 1 – Linfield 9, Whitworth 4

Thomas drove in all four Pirate runs with a pair of homers in game one.

Thomas hit her first home run of the day in the second inning. Her solo shot to center field put the Pirates up 1-0. The Wildcats answered with three runs in the bottom half of the inning.

Linfield extended its lead to 6-1 after a three-run bottom of the fourth.

Thomas cut the deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fifth with a three-run homer, her second of the game.

The Wildcats added three more runs in the sixth for the 9-4 advantage. The Pirates then loaded the bases in the top of the seventh but were unable to get any runs across.

Drea Schwaier-Wolf started in the circle for the Pirates and allowed nine runs (five earned) on six hits. Maddy Podnar allowed four runs on nine hits for the Wildcats in 6.1 innings. She struck out nine Pirates.

Game 2 – Linfield 5, Whitworth 4

Linfield trailed 4-2 after five innings but scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth to sweep the Pirates on Saturday.

Whitworth got out to an early 3-0 lead in the first inning. Heather Menzer drove in the first run with a two-out single and Brynn Radke singled in the next two. The Pirates drew three walks in the inning, all with two outs.

Linfield cut the Pirates' lead to 3-2 in the bottom of the third after a single from Katrina Johns.

The Pirates added a run in the top of the fifth to bring the score to 4-2. Julia Dillon reached base on an error on her sacrifice bunt and Kaylie Lowery scored the run.

The Wildcats opened the sixth with three singles to cut Whitworth's lead to one. Jenny Ball drove in two runs with a double to pull ahead 5-4.

Corinne Vasiloff was the starting pitcher for the Pirates. She allowed five runs (four earned) on eight hits in five innings of work. Melanie Laronde allowed one hit in an inning of relief.

Jordan Bennett got the win in the circle for the Wildcats, allowing one hit in the final two innings. Tayah Kelley allowed four runs (three earned) on six hits as the starter.

Coming Up: Whitworth and Linfield will finish off their non-conference series with another doubleheader tomorrow beginning at 12:00 p.m.