SOFTBALL OPENS CONFERENCE PLAY WITH SPLIT AT PORTLAND STATE

4/6/2007

PORTLAND, Ore. – Sophomore Rachel Miles’ three-run double highlighted a 3-for-3 effort as she led Sacramento State to a 5-3 victory over Portland State in the second game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) doubleheader Friday afternoon at Erv Lind Stadium. The Vikings won the first game, 3-0, behind Mandy Hill’s five-hit shutout.

Today’s doubleheader marked the first two games of a four-game series as the Hornets and Vikings both opened PCSC play today. Last year, Portland State won the conference championship while Sacramento State finished in second place, one game back of PSU. Both teams will play another doubleheader tomorrow at noon.

With the split, Sacramento State moved its record to 9-24 overall and 1-1 in the PCSC while Portland State is now 16-20 and 1-1 in the conference. The Hornets swept the Vikings in a four-game series last season in Sacramento.

In today’s second game, Miles’ two-out, three-run double in the top of the third was the big blow and wound up being the game-winning hit.
 
Sacramento State also had a two-run second inning as the Hornets erased an early 2-0 deficit. Hornet starter Kayla Meeks allowed the first four Portland State batters she faced to reach base safely, capped by a two-run single from Hill. After Hill’s single, Meeks immediately settled down and allowed just four hits the rest of the game.

Sacramento State tied the game in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Miles and Andrea Sherrill pulled off a double steal to put runners at second and third. Junior Hilary Johnson then came through with a two-run single to center field to tie the game.

Portland State picked up a meaningless run in the seventh inning before Meeks induced Janice Damo to fly out and the end the game.

Meeks (5-9) picked up the win, allowing three runs and seven hits with six strikeouts over seven innings. Damo (0-2) got the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits in three innings. Joining Miles with multiple-hit games for the Hornets were Sherrill (2-for-3, two runs) and catcher Jamie Schloredt (2-for-3 with a walk).

In the first game, Hill tossed a five-hit shutout, and Kimi Daniel and Jana Rae Slayton each had RBIs to lead the Vikings to victory. PSU scored its first run in the second inning after Slayton singled home Jackie Heide. The Vikings then added two more runs in the fifth on an RBI-double from Daniel and a wild pitch later in the inning that scored Daniel.

Trailing, 1-0, in the top of the fifth, Sacramento State had an opportunity to tie the game, but pinch runner Keri Elias was thrown out at the plate by center fielder Daniel trying to score from second base on a single from Sherrill.

Hill (14-13) allowed just five hits with no walks and four strikeouts over seven innings. In her first start of the season, Sacramento State senior Jennifer Fryou (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing three runs and six hits over six innings. Junior shortstop Amy Tompkins had a pair of hits and was the only Hornet to finish with a multiple-hit game.