April 3, 2005

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Loyola Marymount was one inning away from a four game sweep of Portland State, but the Vikings scored three runs in the bottom of the seventh to ruin LMU's plans. Krystal Kehr had her best start of the season, allowing just one hit in a complete game shutout in game one of the doubleheader as LMU picked up a 1-0 win. Portland State's Kimi Daniels drove in two runs with a hit to right center field to help the Vikings to a come from behind 3-2 win in game two.

Kehr (2-3) faced just two batters over the minimum to pitch LMU (21-13, 3-1) to a game one victory. She hit a batter in the third inning, and allowed a bunt single in the sixth to Laura Segall for the only hit of the game. She struck out six for her second win of the season.

Good baserunning and a Viking error allowed the Lions to score their only run of the game in the second inning. With one out, Emily Foltz drew a walk. Megan Julian entered as a pinch runner for Foltz. Julian stole second base and advanced to third when PSU catcher Rose Rutledge's throw was high and sailed into center field. With two outs, Kayla Meeks drove a single to right field to bring Julian home for the only run of the game.

The Lions managed just three hits in the game. Foltz and Caylin Hornish joined Meeks as the only Lions with hits. Michelle Hext took another tough loss, allowing just one unearned run to fall to 2-6 on the year. She struck out six batters and allowed one walk.

Game two followed the pattern of the other games in the series. Portland State (7-18, 1-3) scattered four hits in the first six innings, but stellar defense plays by LMU kept the Vikings scoreless. The Lions scored two runs in the top of the fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Danielle Kaminaka drew a walk and advanced to third on Hornish's single to right center. Kaminaka scored on Brittany Bassett's double to left center field to give the Lions their first lead of the day. Pinch runner Lauren Hiramoto scored LMU's second run on Foltz's infield single for the 2-0 lead.

The Lions were flawless on defense today, and Brittany Bassett had seven assists in game two.

Per PCSC rules, the traveling team plays as the home team for day two of the series. Down 2-0 heading into the bottom of the seventh inning, the Vikings finally scored their first runs of the series. Stephanie Bean led off the inning with a single to right field. LMU pitcher Tiffany Pagano got Kayla Lewis to strike out before allowing a single to Mandy Hill. Meeks took over for Pagano, but allowed a single to Melissa Gibson to load the bases. PSU's next batter, pinch hitter Alayna Petersen, was hit by a pitch to bring home PSU's first run of the game and the bases remained loaded. In the next at-bat, Daniel drove a ball to deep right center field that brought home two runners and gave the Vikings the 3-2 win.

Bean and Gibson led the Vikings with two hits. Portland State had eight hits in the game, while LMU managed just five. Bassett was LMU's only batter with multiple hits. Meeks (9-3) took the loss for LMU, allowing the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh. Hill recorded the victory for PSU, allowing two runs on five hits, striking out five and walking two.

The Lions return to action next weekend as they host Saint Mary's in PCSC action.