Junior Nicole Deatherage |
PORTLAND, Ore. – A Portland State error allowed pinch runner Stephanie Lockhart to score the game-winning run in the ninth inning as Sacramento State defeated the Vikings, 1-0, in the second game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Erv Lind Stadium. Portland State was victorious in the first game, 5-1.With the split, Sacramento State, which played as the home team per conference rules, is now 27-19 overall and 6-2 in the PCSC. Portland State is now 13-19 and 5-3 in the conference. Including today''s action, the Hornets and Vikings split the four-game series as each team won one game in Saturday''s doubleheader.
Junior Nicole Deatherage went all nine innings in the second game, allowing no runs and six hits while striking out three. Deatherage (13-7), who allowed just one runner past second base during the entire contest, has now won five of her last six decisions. Her 13 victories are the 10th-best mark in Sacramento State Div. I single-season history.
With the score tied at 0-0 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Deatherage was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame and was replaced on the basepaths by Lockhart. Sophomore Lesley Mayhorn sacrificed the runner to second and Lockhart eventually took third on a passed ball. With one out, sophomore Amy Hillel grounded a ball to third, but Annie Peccia''s throw was errant allowing Lockhart to score the game-winning run.
Sacramento State left nine runners on base in the game, including the bases loaded in both the second and third innings. The Hornets'' Amber Dragomir, Lindy Winkler and Amanda Moreland each had two hits. Portland State''s Megan Herscher (2-4) picked up the loss despite allowing eight hits and one unearned run in 8.1 innings.
In the first game, Portland State scored all five of its runs by the fourth inning. Maggie DeWall doubled in a pair of runs in the fourth, breaking open what was a 3-1 game. Morgan Seibert (8-7) picked up the win, allowing one run and five hits while striking out eight in seven innings.
The Vikings scored two runs in the first inning on an RBI-single from Kayla Lewis and a Hornet error, and added one more run in the second on a sacrifice fly from Nichole Ivie. The Hornets closed the gap to 3-1 on an RBI-single from Erin Coyne in the third inning before DeWall''s fourth-inning double put the game out of reach.
Sophomore Brianne Ferguson (10-10) took the loss for the Hornets, allowing nine hits and five runs (three earned) in four innings. Senior Gina Steenburgen allowed just one hit in three innings of relief work. All nine Portland State starters had at least one hit, led by Lewis who went 2-for-3.
Sacramento State left 10 runners on base in the first game and combined to strand 19 runners during the doubleheader. Winkler had hits in both games and now has a five-game hitting streak.
The Hornets returns to action next week as they host a four-game series with Loyola Marymount. The teams play doubleheaders on both Friday, April 18, and Saturday, April 19. Friday''s doubleheader begins at 1 p.m. while Saturday''s games begin at noon. Sacramento State and Loyola Marymount were selected as the preseason co-favorites to win the conference.
