SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH PORTLAND STATE, SCHLOREDT SETS SCHOOL RECORD
4/12/2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Senior Hilary Johnson’s walkoff RBI-single scored Melissa Cross to deliver Sacramento State a 4-3 victory over Portland State in the first game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium. However, in the second game, Portland State erased a four-run deficit and eventually defeated the Hornets in eight innings by the score of 11-4.
With the split, Sacramento State moved its record to 22-15 overall and 4-2 in the PCSC. Portland State improved to 22-18 overall and remained in first place in the PCSC standings with a 5-1 league record. The Hornets had defeated the Vikings eight straight times in Sacramento prior to dropping the nightcap. The Hornets and Vikings return to the field tomorrow at noon as the teams complete their four-game series with another doubleheader.
“We had an opportunity to sweep today’s games, but let it slip away,” Sacramento State head coach Kathy Strahan said. “We executed well, but just couldn’t get over the hump in the second game. However, our team has been resilient all year and we’re looking forward to getting back on the field tomorrow afternoon.”
Sacramento State junior Jamie Schloredt clubbed a two-run homer in the second game, giving the catcher 95 career RBIs, which sets the new school record. Schloredt’s 95 RBIs surpasses the previous mark of 93, which she had shared with Jillian Bivert.
In today’s first game, Johnson’s RBI-single with one out in the bottom of the seventh delivered a win for the Hornets. Sacramento State had let a three-run lead slip away as the Vikings scored twice in the sixth inning and once more in the seventh.
The Hornets scored three times in the fourth inning on an RBI-single from Whitney Loomis, and two batters later, junior Izmena Cabrera smacked her sixth home run of the season, a two-run shot scoring Schloredt.
Portland State, however, bounced back with two runs in the sixth (RBI-singles from Jana Rae Slayton and De’Chauna Skinner), and one more in the seventh on a triple and throwing error allowing Jamee Rauch to score.
That set up the bottom of the seventh when Cross led off the inning with a double. After being sacrificed to third by Teri Ann Caoagan, Johnson laced an 0-1 pitch that one-hopped the right field wall, easily allowing Cross to score the game-winning run from third base.
Brittani Clifford picked up the win, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) in 2.1 innings. Kayla Meeks started the game for the Hornets, lasting 5.0 innings while giving up just one run and five hits. Mandy Hill took the loss, allowing eight hits and four runs over 6.1 innings.
In the second game, Sacramento State scored four times in the third inning, highlighted by Schloredt’s two-run bomb, and a two-run single from Cross. However, Portland State quickly whittled the Hornets’ lead to one run (4-3) in the top of the fourth on a three-run double from Arielle Wiser. PSU then tied the game in the top of the seventh after Brandi Scoggins drove in Jana Rae Slayton from third base with one out.
Sacramento State had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh, but Hill (who was inserted into the game in the middle of the inning) got Rachel Miles to pop out with a runner at third to end the inning.
The Vikings then unloaded on Hornet pitching in the eighth as Portland State pushed across seven runs on five hits. The Vikings sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning, and the big blow was struck by Hill, who clubbed a grand slam to give the team an 8-4 lead.
Hill (12-11) got the win in relief, allowing no runs and no hits over 1.2 innings. Clifford (9-6) took the loss, throwing the final 4.1 innings of the game.
Tompkins had two hits in both games, finishing the doubleheader 4-for-7 (.571) with a triple. Cross, Caoagan, Johnson and Cabrera also hit safely in both games, and Schloredt finished the nightcap 3-for-4 with a run and two RBIs.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Senior 
