McMINNVILLE, Wash - The University of Puget Sound softball team (7–14, 1–10) fell to No. 4 Linfield University (19–2, 9–0) by a score of 8–0 in the first game of their doubleheader.
Logger shortstop Aisland Dail recorded two of the team's three hits, including a double to left-center field in the top of the third inning. Center fielder Kylie Taninmura followed with a single to left field in the top of the sixth.
Defensively, the Loggers committed one error in the bottom of the third inning. Sophomore
Alison Madia pitched a complete game (5.1 IP, 8 ER, 13 H), recording 13 flyouts and three groundouts.
Linfield's offense totaled 13 hits on 16 at-bats with no strikeouts. Both Sophia VanderSommen and Jacey Leyvas hit home runs, with VanderSommen driving in three runs batted in (RBIs).
Linfield relied solely on pitcher Tyler McNeley (6.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 H), who recorded nine strikeouts.
The Loggers hoped to rebound in game two, but instead held the Wildcats to six runs instead of eight as the afternoon came to a close.
The Loggers' offense remained competitive throughout the game, recording seven hits in 26 at-bats. In the top of the fifth inning, junior left fielder
Brenna Flannery pinch-hit for
Jazzy Allen and delivered a single up the middle. Flannery later hit a triple to right field in the seventh inning, finishing 2-for-2 on the day. As a team, Puget Sound struck out only three times and drew two walks.
Left-handed pitcher
Nyomi Estrada pitched a complete game for the Loggers, going 6.0 innings while allowing four earned runs on nine hits. Estrada also recorded one strikeout and induced 11 flyouts.
Linfield tallied nine hits, including a home run to center field and two RBIs from center fielder Claire Seats. Both Seats and left fielder Tiani Wayton recorded two hits each.
Linfield starting pitcher Tyler Warden threw 4.0 innings, allowing no earned runs and three hits, with two strikeouts and one walk. Lacey Vasas entered in relief at the beginning of the fifth inning and closed out the game, allowing four hits, striking out one, and walking one over 3.0 innings.
The Loggers are off tomorrow, and scheduled to host two doubleheaders against the Whitworth Pirates at home on April 12 and April 13.