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Video of McEachran's game-winning hit & postgame interview

PORTLAND, Ore. – Carly McEachran's bases loaded, two-out single lifted Portland State to a 3-2 victory in 10 innings over Loyola Marymount in game one of the PCSC Championship Series on Friday evening at Erv Lind Stadium.

Porltand State (33-16) has now won 10 straight games and is one win away from reaching the NCAA tournament after taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Game two, and if necessary game three, is tomorrow. First pitch is set for 12 p.m.

In a nailbiter, it was McEachran and the Vikings who finally came through in the clutch. Portland State loaded the bases on a walk and back-to-back singles by Jenna Krogh and Arielle Wiser, but LMU pitcher Molly Medeiros recorded two straight outs against PSU's three and four hitters in the lineup. It didn't matter, though, as McEachran belted the first pitch she saw off the left field fence for the game-winning hit.

"There was a long break in between and and I just knew that she was going to come with a strike and I was ready to take advantage of it," said McEachran.

Indeed there was a stoppage in play before McEachran was able to play the part of the hero. LMU catcher Kathryn Dutton had to be taken out of the game after complaining of dizziness after chasing a foul out hit by Crysta Conn, the Vikings' number four hitter.

While the Lions made their defensive changes, McEachran had several minutes to think about her upcoming at-bat and told Vikings' Head Coach Tobin Echo-Hawk that she was going to come through for the team.

"She just looked at me right before and said she's going to do it and I said okay," said Echo-Hawk.

Loyola Marymount (32-26) opened the scoring, playing small ball to get on the board in the top of the first inning. Danielle Smith led the game off with a single to right field and moved up a base on Amy Charpentier's sacrifice bunt. Two batters later, Kelly Sarginson hit a two-out single into center, easily scoring Smith.

The Vikings answered back in their half of the frame after Krogh hit a leadoff triple to left field and Wiser singled up the middle.

LMU threatened in the top of the fourth, loading the bases with two outs, but Viking pitcher Nichole Latham got the Lions' top hitter, Smith, to fly out to left field. In the fifth, Loyola Marymount went back in front, 2-1, taking advantage of a Portland State fielding error.

PSU evened the score in the sixth on McEachran's sacrifice flyout. Wiser hit a one-out single, Lacey Holm walked and Conn singled to left to load the bases, setting the stage for McEachran.

The Lions put together another threat in the seventh, but PSU left fielder Danielle Lynn made two spectacular plays to help keep LMU off the scoreboard. Lynn made a diving catch going toward shallow left center to rob Sarginson of a hit for the second out. Dutton then stepped to the plate and crushed a ball that landed at the base of the left field fence. Lynn picked it up and fired into McEachran at second base, who applied a tag just in time to get a sliding Dutton.

Holm and McEachran also teammed up for another stellar defensive play in the inning, picking off Sam Fischer at first base for the first out after the junior had led the seventh off with her second hit of the ball game.

Portland State had a chance to end the contest in the bottom half of the seventh and again in the ninth, getting a runner to second base with one out, but the Vikings weren't able to capitalize either time.

Anna Bertrand got credited with the win for PSU after pitching the final three innings of relief. Bertrand gave up just one hit, walked one and struck out one to win her 10th consecutive decision and move to 15-8.

Latham pitched a very effective seven innings for the Vikings, allowing only one earned run. Latham did give up 10 hits, but worked herself out of several jams.

Offensively for Portland State, Wiser hit 3-for-5, while Krogh and McEachran both registered two hits.

Medeiros was the tough-luck loser for the Lions, dropping to 15-8 after allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks. Medeiros struck out six in her 18th complete game of the year.

Dutton tallied three hits for the Lions, and Fishcer and Smith both hit 2-for-5.

NOTES: McEachran's game-winning single was almost a grand slam as the ball hit just below the top of the fence ... PSU is on its second 10-game winning streak of the season. It is the longest in their NCAA DI history (1999-present) ... the Vikings have won 20 of their past 21 games ... this was the longest game between PSU and LMU since they played a 10-inning affair on April 27, 2003. PSU also won that game by a 3-2 score, but in Los Angeles ... the Vikings improved to 4-2 in extra inning games this season ... Krogh's triple was the lone extra base hit in the contest. It was her sixth of the season, tying her for the most by a PSU player in their DI history and for seventh overall ... last year, PSU took game one of the PCSC Championship Series at Saint Mary's, but got swept the next day. The Vikings have made NCAA tourney appearances in 2006 and 2009 ... longtime Viking softball coach Teri Mariani threw out the ceremonial first pitch. Mariani was the Vikings head coach from 1977-2005, amassing 663 wins and five trips to the NCAA Division II West Regionals.