THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Cal Lutheran softball hosted No. 2 Linfield University for a doubleheader on Friday afternoon, falling twice despite giving the Wildcats a scare in the opener.

GAME ONE: NO. 2 LINFIELD 9, CAL LUTHERAN 6
The Regals (12-5, 4-1 SCIAC) hung tight with the Wildcats, holding them scoreless through the first two innings. Ashlyn Flinchum (4-2) started in the circle and threw the complete game for Cal Lu.

Linfield (16-2, 6-0 NWC) struck first with a double and a single in the third inning before adding four more runs on four hits in the fourth. The Regals responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the frame to make it a one-run ballgame. 

Back-to-back doubles from Brooke DeSmet and Olivia Vargas got Cal Lutheran on the board, followed by a Wildcat error and base hits from Jessica Waters and Anna Chavez. Linfield then piled on four more runs across the next two innings to extend its lead to 9-4.

Waters homered in the bottom of the sixth to get something going, and Regals continued their comeback attempt in the seventh but fell just short.

GAME TWO: NO. 2 LINFIELD 9, CAL LUTHERAN 0 (5 INN.)
The Wildcats showed off more of why they are the number two team in Division III, blasting five homeruns over the Cal Lu wall to run-rule the Regals in game two. Ally Forbell (3-3), Ava Tepesano, and Kalli Strahm each shared time on the mound for the Purple & Gold.

Nadia Collins, Dani Diaz, Mia Antonino, and DeSmet each recorded hits in the contest, but the Regals were only able to get three runners into scoring position.

UP NEXT
The doubleheader concludes Cal Lutheran's non-conference slate, as the Regals will ride out the rest of the season against their SCIAC opponents. They will travel to face CMS on Friday, April 4 at 3 PM.