The Portland State softball team won two out of three games in their weekend series against Northern Colorado to move to 15-19 on the year before opening conference play with a doubleheader on April 6.
The Vikings split their doubleheader on Thursday, winning 7-2 behind a dominant, seven-strikeout effort from Mandy Hill. In the first game, sophomore second baseman Jackie Heide hit a two-run homer, while Hill and Kimi Daniel added two RBIs apiece.
In the second game, highly touted freshman pitcher Janice Damo’s first start of the year ended in a loss, 4-3. Damo allowed four runs on nine hits, despite a fantastic 3-3 effort at the plate from infielder Stephanie Bean.
Freshman Meredith Miesbach supplied the fireworks in Saturday’s rubber match, hitting a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the sixth that broke a 2-2 tie. Hill relieved Damo to earn the win, pitching 2 2/3 scoreless innings with two punch-outs.
The weekend series against the Bears was the last tune-up for the Vikings before playing a four-game series against Sacramento State to open up conference play. Portland State head coach Amy Hayes is optimistic and said her team is rounding into form at just the right time.
“I think our girls are hanging in there. They’re doing a great job of competing,” Hayes said. “If you look at our schedule we probably had an RPI in the top 25 to start the year.”
The Vikings played several tough teams to start the season, including games against Nebraska, Auburn, LSU, Ohio, Washington and Oregon State. Making things more difficult, PSU is a young team with six freshman, six sophomores and only one senior, outfielder Kimi Daniel.
“Our freshman have really had to step it up,” Hayes said. “Some of those kids are just getting a taste of Division I ball.”
While Hayes said that the Vikings still have a few things to “shore up” defensively, she is happy with how her team is rounding into shape.
“We need to go out there and put a game together for seven innings and then go and put another game together for seven innings,” Hayes said. “It’s very important for us to take it one game at a time right now.”
With 24 games left in the season, the Vikings seem poised to make another run at the NCAA tourney this year. Even with a decidedly younger team, Hayes hasn’t ruled out the possibility of another magical run.
“The potential is there for sure,” she said. “A lot of things need to come together.”
The Vikings return to action this Friday with a doubleheader against Sac State at Erv Lind Stadium. The first game starts at 12 p.m.