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
