May 2, 2004
PORTLAND, Ore. - Trisha Gomes hit three home runs and drove in six to lead Loyola Marymount softball to a doubleheader sweep of Portland State, 8-3 and 15-2, in Pacific Coast Softball Conference play on Saturday at Erv Lind Stadium.
The Lions jumped to a 15-0 lead in game two before Portland State (18-33, 9-9 PCSC) plated two runs in the third. LMU handed the Vikings their third straight loss following a season-high four-game winning streak. Despite the sweep, LMU (32-12, 13-5) remained one game behind first-place Santa Clara for the PCSC regular season title. Each team has two games to play on Sunday.
With Santa Clara also sweeping Sacramento State on Saturday, the third place Hornets and fourth place Vikings were eliminated from PCSC title contention. LMU needs to take at least one game from Portland State again tomorrow and needs Sacramento State to take at least one from Santa Clara in order to have a shot at defending its PCSC title. LMU would win the tiebreaker with Santa Clara should they finish Sunday with the same record, as the Lions swept Sacramento State last weekend at the LMU Softball Field.
On Saturday, the Lions belted four homers in game one - two by Gomes - and cruised to an 8-3 victory as PSU left 11 runners on base. Right-hander Samantha Lavino (12-4) pitched six innings for the win, while Portland State sophomore right-hander Michelle Hext (11-15) took the loss, allowing six runs on nine hits over five innings.
In game two, LMU scored five runs in the first and 10 in the second. The Lions hit three more long balls in a nightcap that saw all three Viking hurlers throw.
Freshman righty Christy Hess (4-8) was tagged with the loss and only pitched a total of two-thirds of an inning. Only six of LMU's 15 runs were earned, as Portland State committed five errors.
Right-handed starter Krystal Kehr (9-2) earned the win, allowing just two runs on six hits.
The two teams complete the 2004 conference season on Sunday with two more games at Erv Lind Stadium. First pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
