Softball splits in final home stay
The Rainbow Wahines are currently in second place in the Western Athletic Conference. Portland State took both Saturday and Sunday’s opening game, but Hawaii wasn’t going to give up a sweep.
Game one on Saturday was just what the Vikings needed to snap their season high, four game skid. The Vikings were on top of their game, getting nine hits and holding the Wahines to just four. Senior Vanessa Applegate was the big hitter for the Vikings in the opener, going 4-7, including the game winning RBI. Applegate had two RBI’s in the game, one of which came in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at two apiece. Then in the bottom of the seventh with the winning run at second, Applegate singled into left and brought in pinch runner Kari Mills for the 3-2 win.
Continuing her outstanding season was junior Morgan Seibert (12-13). Against one of the best offenses in the WAC, Seibert pitched a four hitter, allowing only two earned runs and recording four strikeouts.
The Wahine came back in game two, but not without some help from the Vikings. Although the Vikings out-hit the Wahine 11-7, they had trouble getting runners across the plate, leaving nine runners on.
On the mound for the Viks was junior southpaw Megan Herscher (3-11). Herscher did well against Hawaii, allowing only seven hits and no walks, although each hit went for extra bases.
Hawaii’s hero in game two was Trisha Ramos who had the game winning RBI in the top of the third. That was the last time the Wahine would score, but it was all they needed. The Vikings’ only score came in the bottom of the fourth when Megumi Hackett singled to knock in Annie Peccia. Neither team scored again, and Hawaii saved a sweep with the 2-1 win.
Sunday’s doubleheader was another showing of precision by the rocket Seibert, who pitched her fourth shutout of the season. Seibert held the Wahine to just four hits for a second consecutive day and struck out four in the process, lowering her ERA to 0.86 in WAC play. The Viks did well offensively, getting eight hits off Hawaii’s starter, Sherri Oronoz.
The big hit of Hawaii’s starter was in the bottom of the fourth, when sophomore Peccia donged her second homer of the season. Peccia’s two-run homer got PSU on the board and in command.
Portland State’s third and final run came the next inning when senior Monica Martell scored off a Hawaii error, giving the Vikings the 3-0 win.
In game two Hawaii came alive early, scoring in the top of the first off a Viking error. Hawaii scored again in the fourth and finished with a monster three-run homer in the fifth. Ramos again came through for the Wahines with the big hit, knocking in the two base runners with her three run bash.
The Viks’ lone score came in the bottom of the fourth when Hackett knocked in Ashley Tennant. The Viks could not score after that, leaving three on base to finish the inning and Hawaii with the 5-1 win.
With their home season over, the Vikings have eight games (due to rainouts) still to finish, starting with a non-conference game in Corvallis against the Beavers yesterday. Results were not available at time of press.
