Box ScoreMCMINNVILLE, Ore. – A five-run third inning cost the Boxers any momentum going forward in their second round matchup with rival Linfield in the Northwest Conference Tournament. The Boxers' 9-1 loss in five innings has given them a spot in an elimination game in day two of the tournament at Del Smith Stadium.
After taking their first loss in the Tournament, the Boxers will play Whitworth Saturday morning at 10am. The winner will go to the final round and play Linfield in the championship game.
The Wildcats started off strong in the bottom of the first inning. Ashley Garcia hit a double to center that scored Katy Brosig. Then on the next at-bat, Erin Kinney hit a two-run homer that scored Garcia at brought Linfield to a 3-0 lead.
The Boxers fought back in the top of the second inning when
Megan Winans (So., Hood River, Ore.) hit a solo home run to cut the lead to 3-1.
Linfield pulled ahead in the bottom of the third inning after Garcia hit a solo home run and Haylie Watson hit a double to score Kinney. On the next at-bat, Lisa Yamamoto hit a three-run homer, scoring Watson and Danielle Duman and giving the Wildcats an 8-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Wildcats widened the lead to 9-1 after a double from Watson scored Alissa Buss.
Shelby VandeBergh earned the win after pitching three innings and allowing just three hits and one earned run. She also had three strikeouts in the contest.
Sara Aasness (Sr., Kirkland, Wash.) took the loss, her first in decisions, after giving up four hits and five earned runs with two walks in 2.1 innings.
