PSU Takes First Howe Night Date, 7-5

Wednesday, March 11

Eugene, Ore.

5:00 PM

University of Oregon

8-16

Portland State

12-12

Portland State

OREGON

03/12/09 | Softball

Box Score

By: GoDucks.com

* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right.

EUGENE - The UO softball team (8-16) returned to the friendly confines of Howe Field Wednesday, but lost its first-ever home night game to Portland State, 7-5.

PSU (12-12) scored one run in the second inning, and three in both the third and fifth innings to hold off UO in the teams' first meeting of the season.

Duck starter and freshman Mikayla Endicott pitched three innings, gave up four runs - all unearned - and struck out four and walked two. Fellow frosh Samantha Skilingstad pitched the next 1 2/3 innings, struck out one, and allowed three more unearned runs. Sophomore Brittany Rumfelt worked the final 2 1/3 innings, struck out three and allowed only one hit and no runs.

Overall in her last nine games and last 32 2/3 innings, the Roseburg, Ore., native Endicott has allowed only two earned runs and struck out 36.

At the plate for UO Wednesday, freshman Kelsey Chambers connected on her third homer of the year over the left field wall in the fifth inning to pull UO within 7-4. In the sixth, the Ducks added another run on a bases-loaded, 3-2 walk to junior Neena Bryant, but the next batter, sophomore Monique Fuiava, popped out to the third baseman to end the rally.

"It was fun to come out and finally have our first game here at home," Chambers said. "I'm getting more and more comfortable at the plate, and having a crowd cheering you on on makes it easier, too. (On the homer) the pitcher gave me a great pitch to hit, and I was ready to turn on it."

UO scored its first three runs in the fourth inning off a 2-RBI double by pinch-hitter and sophomore Ashley Kivett to left center field on a 3-2 pitch. The next batter, senior Sari-Jane Jenkins, followed with a single down the right field to score Kivett.

Jenkins (3-for-4, 1 RBI) tied her season-high hit tally Wednesday and raised her season average to .341 - second-best on the squad behind Bryant (.395). The Salem, Ore., native Jenkins now has a career hit total of 213 that moved to fourth all-time for UO past Lindsey Welch (212), and is now only 21 shy of UO's all-time record holder Julie Cavanaugh (234).

Chambers added a 2-for-4 effort at the plate that included a lead-off double in the fourth inning, and other Ducks that hit safely included sophomore Cortney Kivett (1-for-3), Bryant (1-for-3, 1 RBI) and Ashley Kivett (1-for-2, 2 runs, 2 RBI).

UO also stranded two runners in the second inning, when Kaitlin Vitek walked and Carlyn Re reached on an error by the second baseman with one out. However, a strikeout and grounder to the pitcher ended the inning. The Ducks also stranded single base runners in the first, third and fourth innings.

For PSU, starter Nichole Latham struck out two, walked five, gave up eight hits, and all five of her runs allowed were earned. Two Vikings had multiple hits - catcher Brandi Scoggins (2-for-3, 3 runs, 1 walk) and second baseman Brandi Campos (2-for-4, 2 RBI).

A crowd of 363 was treated to a sunny spring day for the first five innings, then took advantage of the latest facility upgrade ? a permanent light structure installed this past winter - at the fabled softball setting.

Looking ahead, UO returns to action next week for its Pacific-10 Conference opener at Oregon State, Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. (an hour later than the originally reported start time of 1 p.m.).

LINESCORE

Portland State 7, OREGON 5 (Mar 11, 2009 at Eugene, Ore.)
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Portland State...... 013 030 0 - 7 8 1 (12-12)
OREGON.............. 000 311 0 - 5 8 4 (8-16)
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Pitchers: Portland State - LATHAM, N.. OREGON - Endicott, Mikayla; Skillingstad, Sam(4);
Rumfelt, Brittany(5).
Win-LATHAM, N.(8-6) Loss-Endicott, Mikayla(2-3) T-2:16 A-363
HR ORE - Chambers, Kelsey (3).
Weather: 52, sunny, wind 2-6 mph

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