McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Karina Paavola (Jr., Kelso, Wash.) pitched a no-hitter in Game 2 and Linfield hitters pounded 18 hits to Pacific’s two as the top-ranked Wildcats remained unbeaten with a pair of matching 8-0 victories over the visiting Boxers Sunday at Del Smith Stadium. Both Northwest Conference contests were halted after 4½ innings by the eight-run rule

Jaydee Baxter and Emilee Lepp each had three hits to pace the Wildcats offensively. Lepp drove in four runs, including a solo home run in the Game 1, while Baxter doubled and drove home three runs.

Linfield upped its record to 10-0 for the season and 8-0 in the NWC. Pacific saw its record fall to 5-11 and 3-5 in conference action.

GAME 1
Lepp belted a solo home run in the first inning to stake the ‘Cats to a 1-0 lead in the early going.

Karleigh Prestianni (Sr., Grants Pass, Ore.) led off the Linfield fourth inning with a single to center field. Pinch runner Grace Middlestadt stole second, then Ashley Garcia (Jr., Beaverton, Ore.) took a 2-1 pitch from Boxers starter Chloe Hanson and parked it over the left-field fence for her fifth home run of the season.

Leading 3-0, Lepp stepped to the plate with two outs and two runners on. The All-American then sent a line drive off the glove of third baseman Lauren Tuey to score another run. 

The Wildcats padded their lead in the fifth when Katy Brosig (Jr., Forest Grove, Ore.) planted a RBI single that made the score 5-0. Then Erin Carson (Soph., Camas, Wash.) added two more runs with a two-run grounder through the infield that scored Brosig and pinch runner McKenna Spieth (Soph., Vancouver, Wash.).

Lepp put the finishing touches on the game, ending it with a sharply hit ball down the third-base line that plated Carson from second base.

Lauren Harvey pitched all five innings to earn her fifth win of the year. She struck out four without issuing a walk, though three runners did reach base after being grazed by pitches.

GAME 2
Paavola was unhittable in the nightcap, striking out six Boxers and walking one. The sophomore righthander raised her season record to 5-0. She faced 18 batters, getting seven Boxers to ground out and two more to fly out.

Linfield spread nine hits around on three Pacific pitchers, including starter Shannon Miller who took the loss to fall to 0-3.

Baxter went 2-for-2, scored twice and had three RBI. Jordan Mixsell went 2-for-3. Middlestadt, the Wildcats’ leadoff hitter, stole two bases and scored a couple of runs.

COMING UP: Linfield remains at home for its next four games. Saturday, the Wildcats host Puget Sound at Del Smith Stadium, then welcome Pacific Lutheran to McMinnville on Sunday. Both doubleheaders start at noon.