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Portland State University Athletics

PORTLAND STATE VIKINGS
Jessica Flanagan
Jessica Flanagan hit a walk-off single in the eighth inning of Portland State's 3-2 win.
2
Southern Utah SUU 5-26, 3-7 BSC
3
Winner Portland State PSU 14-24, 3-6 BSC
Southern Utah SUU
5-26, 3-7 BSC
2
Final
3
Portland State PSU
14-24, 3-6 BSC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E
Southern Utah SUU 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 1
Portland State PSU 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 3 10 1

W: Schroeder, Katie (7-6) L: SORENSEN, Sydni (1-6)

Game Recap: Softball | | Jackson Wagner

Vikings Walk-off in Extras Against Southern Utah

A scheduled doubleheader Friday afternoon between Portland State and Southern Utah saw the VIkings take one game while Mother Nature claimed the other. The Vikings made sure the fans that stuck it out through the rain got a good show, winning in walkoff style for the first time this season.

It has been a sentiment that head coach Meadow McWhorter has shared every time the Vikings (14-24/3-6 BSC) get a chance to play a home game, of which they've had only eight so far. The opportunity to hold the bats last gives you a lot of power in the game. Her team proved that to be true on Friday.

Jessica Flanagan ripped a single with the bases loaded to score the game-winning run in extra innings. The 3-2 win is Portland State's first in extras this season after dropping the previous two contests that went long.

The win also snaps a three-game losing streak for the Vikings, who were swept on the road against Montana last weekend. The result could be drastically important in the long run, as Portland State jumped ahead of Southern Utah in the conference standings. And while the final score was close, the VIkings controlled the game with over twice as many hits as the Thunderbirds.

The Vikings left 10 runners on base, including a scoreless second inning that saw them load the bases with no outs. But the final hit came when they needed it and the Vikings got a huge conference win.

The second game of the scheduled doubleheader was halted because of rain. The two teams will complete that game, which was still in the top half of the first inning, and play the third game of the series tomorrow. The scheduled start time is 12:00 p.m.

Friday's game, and the entire series for that matter, was billed as a offensive showdown. The two teams both have powerful offenses and pitching staffs that have struggled, so the expectation was to have high scoring games all weekend.

The two pitchers proved that this matchup isn't an arms race after all. Portland State's Katie Schroeder was excellent inside the circle, tossing eight innings of four-hit ball while allowing just two runs. She picked up the win in her complete game effort, improving to 7-6 on the season.

Portland State had a great chance to start the scoring in the bottom half of the second. Rachel Menlove started the inning with a single. Sala Pedebone then reached on a fielder's choice and the throw to second was late, giving the Vikings two runners. Tayler Gunesch then singled, loading the bases with no outs. But three straight PSU batters were retired and the game remained scoreless.

The Thunderbirds then got on the board first in the third inning. A leadoff walk followed by a sacrifice bunt put a runner in scoring position. A double scored the first run of the game. Then with two outs, the Big Sky's leader in batting average Dream Weaver scored another run, giving Southern Utah a 2-0 lead.

Darian Lindsey provided the answer for the Vikings, ripping a solo shot to lead off the bottom half of that inning to cut the lead in half. It was the sixth homer of the season for Lindsey and third in the last two games.

Tayler Gunesch led off the fourth inning for the Vikings with a double off the fence in left field. She moved to third on a ground out and Marissa Bruno scored her with a single up the middle to tie the game.

The two pitchers controlled the game moving forward, allowing few scoring opportunities for either side. It came down to the bottom of the seventh, when Flanagan led off the inning with an infield single. The Vikings attempted a sacrifice bunt to move her to second, but the Thunderbirds cut down the lead runner. Later, a two-out walk put runners on first and second but a strikeout ended the inning and forced extras.

Southern Utah had a chance to take a lead in the top of the eighth after Samantha Guerra got on base with a double. A fly out to right field moved her to third base with two outs. Then Lindsey made a defensive play that saved the game, and possibly the season, for Portland State.

She made a good stretch for a hard hit ball up the middle, quickly flipping it to first to just beat out the runner, stop the run from scoring and end the inning.

The Vikings benefited from a couple of Thunderbird mistakes - a hit-by-pitch and an error - to put runners on first and third for Lindsey. Southern Utah intentionally walked her, loading the bases for Flanagan. The junior delivered, rocketing a line drive down the first base line. Mikelle Magalogo got a glove to it but couldn't pull it in. Bruno scored from third, ending the game and jumping the Vikings ahead of the Thunderbirds in the conference standings.

Flanagan ended the game 2-for-5 with an RBI and Lindsey went 1-for-3 with the solo home run. Menlove also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4, while Gunesch added a pair of hits. The two teams will start a doubleheader tomorrow at 12 p.m. They will finish game two of the series, which is currently in the top of the first inning, before completing the series.

 
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