May 2, 2004

Portland, Oregon - Loyola Marymount softball did everything it could to remain in position to defend its Pacific Coast Softball Conference title, but after coming down to the final day of play, the doubleheader split with Portland State was not enough. With Santa Clara taking four games from Sacramento State this weekend, the Broncos secured the first place finish, while the Lions complete the season two games behind in second place. LMU dropped Sunday's first game to Portland State 7-4, but rebounded to win game two 5-4. The Vikings (19-33, 10-10 PCSC) claimed a tie for third place in the PCSC with Sacramento State.

Over the course of the weekend, the Vikings and Lions played a total of eight hours and 41 minutes of softball, averaging over 2:10 per contest. The teams combined for 12 home runs and committed 23 errors.

The Lions outscored Portland State 23-5 over the first two games of the series, but Portland State battled back from a 1-0 deficit in Sunday's game one to scored seven runs in the fourth inning to support starter Michelle Hext (12-16). The sophomore right-hander put together a complete-game outing, allowing two earned runs on eight hits.

Portland State's breakout inning came in the top of the fourth, when the Viks took advantage of three errors by the Lions to plate four runs.

LMU hurler Samantha Lavino (12-5) was pinned with the loss, but only one of the six runs she surrendered over 4.1 innings was earned.

Portland State's Stokey and Lewis homered in the fourth of game two for a 4-1 lead. LMU scratched for single runs in the fourth and fifth, and scored two in the sixth on one hit and a pair of Portland State errors, reclaiming the lead at 5-4.

LMU, per PCSC rules, was the designated home team for both games on Sunday and claimed victory after the Vikings left two runners on base in the top of the seventh.

Right-hander Krystal Kehr (10-2) earned the win for the Lions with three innings of shutout relief. Hext, who came on in relief of freshman starter Christy Hess in the third, took the loss.