April 10, 2005
PORTLAND, Ore. - Portland State softball completed the season sweep over Santa Clara with two more Pacific Coast Softball Conference victories this afternoon at Erv Lind Stadium. The Vikings improved to 11-18 overall, 5-3 in league play, with 7-1 and 6-3 victories. Despite notching 11 hits in the first game against PSU, Santa Clara's record falls to 20-21, 3-5.
The Vikings outscored SCU 22-4 in the weekend series, and moved past the Broncos in the conference standings. PSU is now tied for second place with San Diego, two games behind first-place Loyola Marymount, with 12 PCSC games to play.
In the first game, The Vikings scored three runs in the second for the early lead, led by a two-RBI triple from Whitney Olson. Portland State extended its advantage to 5-0 in the fourth after Kayla Lewis hit a home run. The Broncos countered with one run in the bottom half of the inning. Consecutive singles from sophomores Jillian Cassel, Valerie Mock, and Angela Kabanuck loaded the bases. Junior second baseman Jenny Brown followed with her own single through the left side for the RBI.
The Vikings jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the nightcap. The Broncos scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to reduce that advantage. Portland State walked the first three batters of the frame to load the bases. The Vikings sent in a relief pitcher, but Kabanuck notched an RBI single and was followed by Jessica Clee's 2 RBI double down the right field line. Kabanuck added a double in the first inning and Kelley Johnson notched a single up the middle in the fourth for the Broncos' other hits of the game.
Santa Clara remains in the Northwest and will take on Pac-10 schools Oregon and Oregon State in a Monday tripleheader. Santa Clara returns home to Marsalli Park on Wednesday with a non-conference doubleheader against Cal Poly at 1 p.m.
