April 9, 2005
PORTLAND, Ore. - Kayla Lewis provided enough offense for PSU, going 2-for-6 with a three-run home run and two-run double over two games. Rose Rutledge also had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two doubles and two RBIs.
Hext (3-6) was one out from perfection in Game 1, retiring the first 20 batters she faced. Bronco junior short stop Shannon Linerud lined a single up the middle with two away in the top of the seventh to spoil the potential perfect game. Hext has not allowed an earned run in three conference starts this season.
Lauren McCarthy staked the Vikings to a 2-0 lead with a two-run homer in the first inning. PSU tacked on a single run in the fifth and Lewis hit a home run in the sixth for added breathing room. The home run was the sixth of the season for Lewis and 13th of her career, tying the Portland State all-time record.
The double by Lewis in game two broke a scoreless tie in the fourth. Rutledge doubled in the third run in the fifth, and Hill (3-3) took care of the Broncos from there. Hill finished with six strikeouts and started a 1-4-3 double play to end the game.
Portland State helped raise over $520 for the ALS Association of Oregon and SW Washington on Strike Out ALS Day.
Santa Clara remains in Portland for another doubleheader against the Vikings on Sunday. The Broncos will then take on Pac-10 schools Oregon and Oregon State in a Monday tripleheader. Santa Clara returns home to Marsalli Park on April 13 with a non-conference doubleheader against Cal Poly at 1 p.m.
