Linfield earns its first NCAA D3 softball finals berth since 2015 after winning super regional

Linfield players celebrate Saturday after winning the super regional to advance to the NCAA finals in Marshall, Tex. June 1-7. (J.J. Anderson)
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Linfield softball is advancing to the NCAA Division III Championship for the first time since 2015 after the Wildcats won a best-of-three Linfield Super Regional series against Bethel (Minn.).

Linfield defeated Bethel 1-0 Saturday at Del Smith Stadium to win the series 2-0. The Wildcats also beat Bethel 1-0 on Friday.

Linfield (46-4) plays in the NCAA finals June 1-7 in Marshall, Tex. The Wildcats won national titles in 2007 and 2011.

Pitcher Tayah Kelley posted her second shutout in as many days Saturday, holding Bethel (36-5) to two hits. Kelley struck out six and walked one. During the two-day run, Kelley gave up just three hits over 14 innings.

Linfield scored its lone run in the fifth inning when Brynn Nelson walked, took second on a ground out, then scored on Ashley Sutton’s single to left field.

In Friday’s 1-0 win, the difference was a fourth-inning homer to left field by Katie Phillips.

Linfield is one of eight teams to earn an NCAA D-III tournament berth. The Wildcats are part of a four-team Bracket 2 that includes Moravian (Pa.), Berry (Ga.) and Trine (Ind.). The winner of the double-elimination bracket faces the survivor of Bracket 1 in a best-of-three series for the championship.

--Nick Daschel | ndaschel@oregonian.com | @nickdaschel

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