University of Oregon
20-5
Portland State (Game 2 - Doubleheader)
10-17
Ducks Cement Doubleheader PSU Sweep With 2-0 Blanking
03/24/10 | Softball
* Updated season and career statistics are available via the link above, and boxscore and play-by-play links are to the right.
PORTLAND, Ore. – En route to its sixth and seventh straight wins, the No. 25 University of Oregon softball team (20-5) topped returning PCSC Conference champion Portland State (10-17) by 3-2 and 2-0 scores in Tuesday's afternoon doubleheader.
In the nightcap, sophomore starting pitcher Samantha Skillingstad (6-3) struck out 12 batters – a new career high that tied for third-best in school history - and walked three and allowed four hits.
Tuesday marked her first shutout of the season and fifth in her career, to go along with her two combined shutouts earlier this season and four career-wise in the category. The Spokane, Wash., native also enjoyed her fifth straight win since mid-February, and has now struck out +10 batters on four occasions this season and six times overall in her career.
After a scoreless opening stanza, junior catcher Kaitlin Vitek started UO's two-run second inning when she hit a 2-2 change-up into center field for a single. Junior third baseman Cortney Kivett followed with a double to left field to put runners on second and third, and freshman left fielder Allie Burger singled to left field to score both runners.
Overall for the game, freshman Samantha Pappas went 3-for-3 at the plate with a walk for her team-high 11th multi-hit game of the season. Vitek and Burger added 2-for-3 afternoons, and other Ducks that hit safely included freshman second baseman Kaylan Howard (1-for-3) and Cortney Kivett (1-for-2).
In the fifth inning, PSU nearly tied up the game with a pair of shots to deep right field. With one out, leadoff hitter Brandi Campos hit a towering stand-up triple, and Danielle Lynn followed with a similarly-placed moon shot to the warning track that Pappas hauled in for the last out.
In the sixth, PSU's clean-up hitter Brandi Scoggins hit another triple to right field to open the inning, but a strikeout and two infield pop-outs stranded the runner at third base.
The Vikings also appeared poised to score in the first inning when a single and walk with one out, but Skillingstad responded with a pair of strikeouts to end the inning.
PSU starter Nichole Latham (1-4) struck out five, walked two, and both of her runs allowed were earned. Three of the first four batters in their lineup accounted for all their hits – Campos (2-for-4), Wiser (1-for-3) and Scoggins (1-for-2).
Looking ahead, UO returns home for a pair of doubleheaders Thursday and Friday vs. Seattle (2-17) and Idaho State (4-13), and both games are set for a 3 p.m. start at Howe Field.
LINESCORE
Oregon 2, Portland State 0 (Mar 23, 2010 at Portland, Ore.)
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Oregon.............. 020 000 0 - 2 9 0 (20-5)
Portland State...... 000 000 0 - 0 4 0 (10-17)
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Pitchers: Oregon - Skillingstad, Sam and Vitek, Kaitlin. Portland State - LATHAM, Nichole and
SCOGGINS, Brandi. Win-Skillingstad, Sam(6-3) Loss-LATHAM, Nichole(1-4) T-2:23 A-400. Weather: 56, sunny, wind 0-3 mph
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skillingstad, Samantha (6-3)
L: LATHAM, Nichole (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Kivett, Cortney 1
RBI: Burger, Allie 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Vitek, Kaitlin 1 ; Kivett, Cortney 1
SB: Pappas, Samantha 1 ; Burger, Allie 1
Batting:
3B: CAMPOS, Brandi 1 ; SCOGGINS, Brandi 1
