Winning eight of its last nine and 13 of the previous 15 contests, the Linfield baseball team has momentum on its side as the regular season draws to a close and the NCAA Division III playoffs loom on the horizon.

In recognition of their recent success, the Wildcats have climbed to their highest positions in two polls. In the most recent d3baseball.com/NCBWC Top 25 poll, Linfield rose to No. 3, up three rungs from last week’s No. 6 ranking. The ‘Cats are also rated fourth in this week’s American Baseball Coaches Association/Collegiate Baseball poll, up four spots from No. 7.

The Wildcats are coming off a 10-game stretch of that includes series victories over Northwest Conference rivals George Fox and Pacific Lutheran, as well as three wins over West Region powerhouse Chapman.

Standing at 29-8 overall, Linfield concluded the conference slate last weekend with a three-game road sweep of PLU. The Wildcats are 20-4 in the NWC.

“It’s great to see Linfield being recognized on a national scale,” said Wildcats coach Scott Brosius. “Now it’s up to us as a team to continue to live up to those expectations.”

At the end of last season, the ‘Cats enjoyed their highest poll position since joining Division III when Linfield was rated No. 3 in the final ABCA/Collegiate Baseball poll. The Wildcats came within two wins of capturing the 2010 Division III national championship.

Linfield closes the regular season with three nonconference games spread acrosse three days at the Inland Cellular tournament, Friday-Sunday, at Lewiston, Idaho. The Wildcats open with a game against NAIA power Lewis-Clark State Friday at 6 p.m. before meeting Pacific Lutheran Saturday at 3. A rematch with George Fox is set for Sunday at 11 a.m.

The NCAA selection committee is expected to announce the 53-team Division III playoff field late Sunday evening, May 15.

Regional tournament play is May 18-22 at eight campus sites. The NCAA Finals scheduled for May 27-31 at Fox Cities Stadium in Appleton, Wis.