EUGENE, Ore. – The Portland State softball team fell in its doubleheader on Sunday, losing to Loyola Marymount 6-5 and #11 Oregon 12-2 at Jane Anderson Stadium to close out the Oregon Invite.
The Vikings move to 6-18 on the year and will play in one more tournament before beginning conference play on Mar. 21.
GAME ONE: Loyola Marymount 6, Portland State 5
LMU used another late rally in its second game against the Vikings to sweep PSU in the Oregon Invite. Portland State struck first as
Ashley Doyle reached base on a fielding error, scoring
Hannah Sisul who reached on a walk in the first inning. LMU tied the game in the bottom of the inning, leading off with a walk before an RBI single tied the game.
Both teams struggled to generate runs after that as Loyola Marymount took the lead late in the fifth inning, scoring on a sac-fly to left field. PSU held LMU to only one run as Sisul caught the fly ball before tossing out the second runner at home to complete the double play.
Down 2-1 in the top of the seventh,
Marissa Bruno hit a lead-off single followed by another base hit from Sisul.
Emily Johansen tied the game with an RBI single to right field while
Darian Lindsey gave the Viking the lead with her fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot to center field as PSU took a 5-2 lead.
Lindsey finished with two hits in the game and three RBIs to lead the Vikings while Sisul scored two runs on the day.
The Lions held on to win, scoring four runs in the bottom of the seventh, leading off with a walk before a two-run home run brought them within one run of tying the game. LMU doubled to center field before two singles brought in the final two runs.
Olivia Grey started in the circle for PSU, tossing six innings with five runs off of five hits while collecting eight strikeouts. She now has 58 strikeouts on the season to lead the team.
GAME TWO: #11 Oregon 12, Portland State 2
The Vikings continued their tradition of scoring in the first inning as Lindsey doubled to the left side before
Alexis Morrison hit a double of her own down the right field line to score the run.
Oregon led off the home half of the first inning with two singles before hitting a two-run double to take the lead. The Ducks added another run with a single to the left side to take a 3-1 lead.
In the second,
Alexxis Ponce singled through the left side before coming around to score off a double from Bruno to cut the lead to 3-2. Five different Vikings recorded a hit in the game while Lindsey led Portland State with three total hits on the day.
The Ducks took control in the bottom of the second, scoring seven runs capped off by a four-run homer from Jasime Sievers. After loading the bases, Oregon forced a walk to bring in the first run followed by two singles before the home run gave the Ducks a commanding 10-2 lead.
Oregon added its final two runs in the third inning, hitting another home run, this time a two-run shot to left field to go up 12-2. The Ducks out hit the Vikings 12-5 with three players recording multiple hits in the game.
The Vikings will play in their final tournament before conference play next week as they travel for the Seattle Invite, taking on the Redhawks and Stony Brook beginning Saturday, Mar. 14.
