The Portland State women’s softball team struggled a bit down in Fullerton, California this past week at the Worth Invitational, losing 4 out of 5 games.
After suffering losses in both double headers last Friday, the Viks came back with new motivation and won against UC Santa Barbara on Saturday morning picking up their first win at the Worth Invitational, and leaving the Gauchos with an 8-1 loss at the Titan Softball Complex.
The Viks exploded for six runs in the fourth inning, and added two more in the sixth. Senior third baseman Annie Peccia got things started on a triple with a perfectly executed squeeze bunt, which brought a run in for the Viks, giving Portland State a 2-0 lead.
Sophomores, Tiffany McHenry and Maggie DeWall kept the game moving right along both adding RBI singles, and junior Kayla Lewis topped off the score with a two-run single, sowing up an 8-1 victory for the Viks. Peccia also picked up an RBI in the sixth when PSU scored twice thanks to the help of a pair of UCSB errors.
Unfortunately, the glory of the win didn’t carry on to the next game. Instead, Portland State lost to No. 10 Stanford at the Titan Softball Complex, taking a split for the day, and giving Stanford a 4-0 win.
On the other hand, the Cardinals, ranked among the 10 best in the nation, did not have an easy time clearing out the Viks.
Junior right-hander, Vanessa Holm, (0-2) was stellar in her first appearance of the weekend, allowing only six hits. Holm struck out three and walked only one. Cardinal pitcher, Laura Severton, (6-2) played a tight game, allowing only two hits and two walks in a Stanford win.
Stanford brought in two runs in the top of the third, and two more in the sixth. The Cardinals had no grand slams, only six singles.
After Portland State felt a little threatened in the bottom of the fourth, the Viks loaded the bases with only one out. After a line out and a walk, two more Viks followed with singles, but a force out at home and a strike out ended the rally.
Sunday the Viks came up short as well, playing their last Worth Invitational against the extremely strong Oklahoma State program. Falling in the ninth inning, 4-3, it was the final game of the WI for both teams. I was no easy win for the Oklahoma Cowgirls, but they attained a hard earned win after Shanel Scott’s RBI infield single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Both Peccia and junior Rose Rutledge had two hits and are both batting over .400 15 games in the season.
The Vikings now return home for four straight doubleheaders, starting Thursday, March 11, with an additional exhibition against the Canadian Olympic Team. The first pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Erv Lind Stadium, which is located at NE 57th and Halsey.