Stuck in second

After splitting their four-game series with St. Mary’s, the Vikings find themselves in the same position they were entering play last weekend: in second place in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference, facing another crucial four-game set just over the horizon that could decide the conference title.

The Vikings (24-24, 7-5 PCSC) and Gaels (21-22, 7-5 PCSC) traded blows all weekend long, each claiming a victory and a loss in doubleheaders on Saturday and Sunday.

“They had our number a little bit last year,” said head coach Amy Hayes. “They’re a program that’s up and coming. They’ve got a nice little pitching staff and they’re hitting the ball well. I think we kind of caught them on the rise.”

The Vikings drew first blood with a 5-1 win Saturday that evened senior ace Mandy Hill’s record to 13-13. Hill had a season-high 11 strikeouts and walked one batter. St. Mary’s responded with an eighth-inning triumph in the nightcap, winning 1-0.

The results were the same Sunday afternoon, though the order was reversed. The Gaels eked out a 2-1 win over Hill before succumbing 6-5 as freshman pitcher Nicole Latham continued her recent trend of giving up runs but managing to notch the win.

The Vikings’ bats have been relatively silent in their recent losses. Portland State has managed just one run apiece in each of its last four losses. Hayes said she is not worried about her team’s ability to manufacture runs.

“If you look at what those kids have done offensively for us, across the board,” Hayes said, “we’re fine. I think the frustrating thing for all of us on Saturday and Sunday is we didn’t make the adjustments quick enough.”

The Vikings had particular trouble figuring out freshman junk-baller Maryanne Cronin, who dominated Portland State in the Gaels’ two wins. Cronin gave up just one earned run while appearing in all four games.

One Vikings player who did find consistent success against the St. Mary’s pitching staff was junior first baseman Jana Rae Slayton, who went 6-12 with five RBIs and a home run. She hit safely in all four games.

“I remember when Jaws [Slayton] was standing on third base with me and we were talking about the St. Mary’s pitcher. She was like, ‘We can’t let her get into our head,'” Hayes said. “She’s very even-keeled.”

Hayes said that while the rest of her team struggled to adjust quickly to the Gaels pitchers, Slayton used her patience to come through and deal with St. Mary’s off-speed style.

“St. Mary’s did a really good job with their off-speeds,” Slayton said. “I think we’ll be fine.”

Slayton provided the majority of the offense against St. Mary’s, as the Gaels held Hill to no hits. Slayton will be expected to shoulder more of the offensive load as the Vikings take on conference-leading Loyola Marymount this weekend.

“We’re really excited,” she said. “We get to play LMU at home. It’s our senior weekend. We’re just looking forward to some games at home.”

LMU has unique history with Portland State. Last time the Lions played at Erv Lind Stadium, the Vikings were in need of a sweep and came through, earning their first trip to the NCAA Tournament since becoming a member of the PCSC.

“I think the key going into this weekend is to not let a couple kids on the LMU team beat us,” Hayes said. “I think we’ll be fine. We play well at home. LMU doesn’t have very good memories of the last time they came up to Portland. Anything we can do to get in their heads we’ll do.”

This year, LMU comes to town toting a 33-15 record overall and a 8-4 PSCS record, good enough for a one-game lead over Portland State and St. Mary’s, both locked at 7-5 in conference action. A dominant performance against the Lions could help sew up the conference title with only four road games at Santa Clara remaining afterward.

“Its crazy the way this conference is working itself out this year,” Hayes said. “Every weekend could be the weekend. We came into the weekend against St. Mary’s with four teams tied for first. It is anybody’s ballgame.”

Digits

1 Number of runs the Vikings scored in each of their last four losses.

3 Vikings wins in their last 10 games.

7Vikings losses in their last 10 games.

1 Games behind conference leader Loyola Marymount University.

4Number of games Loyola Marymount and Portland State will play this weekend.

3Wins needed against LMU to have a chance of securing conference championship.

.368Batting average of first baseman Jana Rae Slayton, who leads the team in that category and is tied for the lead in home runs (4).

.204Slayton’s batting average last year, as she hit 3 home runs and compiled 16 RBIs.

11 Number of errors Slayton has in her three-year career at Portland State, with only one committed this season.