May 2, 2009

Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score

Los Angeles, CA - Portland State clinched the 2009 Pacific Coast Softball Conference championship Saturday, sweeping LMU 2-0 and 7-4 in a doubleheader at Smith Field. The Lions (23-29, 9-9 PCSC) needed to take all four games to have any chance at its fourth conference title but instead watched as the Vikings (28-23, 14-4 PCSC) claimed their second crown.

Game one was a classic pitcher's duel with LMU junior Melissa Dykema matching zeroes with PSU's Nichole Latham through the first four innings. Both got help from their defenses as Portland State came to Latham's rescue in the third as shortstop Arielle Wiser leapt high to rob sophomore Amy Charpentier of a hit and leftfielder Kristin Wilson followed that with a diving catch to preserve Latham's no-hitter. In fact, Latham did not allow a hit until senior Chelsie Tysdal lined a single to left with two outs in the fourth.

LMU's defense got into the act in the fourth to keep the Vikings off the board. With a runner on second and two outs, Jenna Wilson hit a flare to short leftfield but LMU senior shortstop Megan Ackerman raced out and made a running over-the-shoulder catch to end the threat.

The Vikings broke the deadlock in the fifth when Kristin Wilson led off with a single and De'Chauna Skinner was hit by a pitch, with a sacrifice bunt putting the runners on second and third with one out. Wiser then laced a single to left for the game's first run. On the very next pitch, Wiser took off from first. Tysdal threw down to Ackerman, who tagged out Wiser as Skinner broke for home, sliding in just ahead of the tag.

Portland State had runners on first and second with one out in the seventh but Dykema induced a double play to end the inning and bring up the heart of LMU's lineup in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Sam Fischer led off with a high fly ball to leftfield that fell in just between Wiser and Wilson. Tysdal then lined a ball but centerfielder Jackie Heide tracked it down on the run for the first out. Ackerman kept the inning going with a single up the middle, putting the tying run on first, but freshman Kelly Sarginson grounded into a double play as Jamee Rauch touched third and then threw across the diamond to end the game.

Fischer, Tysdal, and Ackerman had the Lion hits. Dykema (11-13) allowed both runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two. Kristin Wilson was 3-for-3 with a run scored while Rauch finished 2-for-3 for the Vikings. Latham (15-11) allowed just five baserunners on three hits, a walk, and an error, striking out two.

As great as both teams were defensively in the first game, they were on the opposite end of the spectrum in game two as the first four runs all were unearned. LMU loaded the bases in the first thanks to three walks from Tori Rogers but junior Christine Foley lined out to short to keep the game scoreless. PSU took advantage in the top of the frame, getting a two-out single by Jenna Wilson before Kristin Wilson grounded a single past Foley at first. Sophomore Jennifer Nayudu was unable to handle the ball in right, allowing Jenna Wilson to come all the way around to score and Kristin Wilson to go to second. Skinner then lifted a flare to short center that just eluded Ackerman, bouncing off the sprinting shortstop's glove to bring home Kristin Wilson.

LMU pulled a run back in the bottom half of the second when Nayudu doubled to right, advanced to third on a groundout, and came home on Wiser's error at short off the bat of Slouber. More shaky Viking defense opened the door for the Lions in the third. With two outs, Ackerman hit a fly to right that Jenna Wilson over-ran and dropped to prolong the inning. Foley then hit a ball to practically the same spot but second baseman Becca Diede lost it in the sun for a hit, advancing Ackerman to third. Sophomore Priscilla Satete made PSU pay, bouncing a ball through the left side for her first hit of the season to tie the game at 2-all.

Three straight singles to open the fourth put Portland State back on top, 3-2, but LMU was able to make a defensive play to end the threat. With runners on first and third and one out, the Vikings tried another double steal. Instead of throwing down to second, Tysdal came up with a rifle throw to pick Jenna Wilson off third to take the runner out of scoring position. Freshman Corie Goodman then induced a groundout to end the inning and worked out of a jam of runners on second and third in the fifth.

Those defensive stands opened the door for the Lions to take their first lead of the day in the fifth. Ackerman, who had not homered in her last nine games, hit her team-leading 12th of the year, a two-run shot to right, to make it 4-3. The Lion defense then came through with another clutch play in the sixth as the Vikings put runners on first and second with one out. Diede lifted a fly ball to right that would have scored a run but Hartung, who had entered the game the inning before as a defensive substitute, made a sliding catch and came up throwing, doubling the runner off first to preserve the lead.

Needing a comeback to clinch the PCSC title, PSU caught some lucky breaks to regain the lead in the seventh. After Rauch singled to put the tying run on, Jackie Heide hit a grounder between third and short that Fischer dove to grab but her throw was late and off-target. Jana Rae Slayton followed with a soft liner to short that kicked left away from Ackerman to load the bases. Brandi Scoggins then cleared them with a double off the wall in left. After Jenna Wilson lined out to left, Kristin Wilson scorched a single off Fischer's glove at third to bring home Scoggins for a 7-4 lead before the Lions went in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Ackerman was 1-for-2 with a walk, two RBI, and two runs scored while senior Kirsten Slouber was hitless on the day to leave her one hit shy of tying the LMU career record. Goodman (12-15) took the loss, allowing seven runs (five earned) on 14 hits. Tori Rogers (11-5) allowed four runs (two earned) on five hits and three walks in the complete-game win. Jenna Wilson was 3-for-4, Heide and Skinner were each 2-for-3, and Scoggins was 2-for-4 with three RBI.

The Lions and Vikings will close out the regular season with another doubleheader Sunday. Prior to the first game, LMU will honor its five graduating seniors playing in their final games at Smith Field. LMU will recognize Megan Ackerman, MiaSarah Cesena, Darcy Pagnini, Kirsten Slouber, and Chelsie Tysdal, along with Portland State's six seniors.

- GO LIONS -