University of Oregon
11-20
Portland State
14-13
Ducks Conquer Vikings, 2-0, to Open Homestand
04/02/09 | Softball
* A boxscore and play-by-play is located in the LINKS box to the right, and updated season and career stats are available via the link above.
EUGENE - The University of Oregon softball team (11-20, 0-4) cashed in on a a pair of fourth-inning homers and a shutout by freshman Samantha Skillingstad to top Portland State, 2-0, Tuesday evening at Howe Field.
With one out in the fourth inning, junior Blair Williamson launched a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall for her second homer of the season for UO's first run. The Salem, Ore., native hit her first career roundtripper at then-No. 11 Arizona Saturday night, and has now hit safely in five of her last seven games with a .583 batting mark (7-for-12) over that stretch.
"I wasn't looking to hit a home run," Williamson said. "If it was a ball I would have taken the walk, and if it was a strike I was just trying to get a hit. I've tried not to focus on what's happened in the past, be it good or bad, and just focus on that at-bat and being ready. This was a good win to give us some momentum heading into the weekend against two more tough Pac-10 teams."
Two batters later Wednesday, freshman Lindsey Chambers added her third homer of the season on a 3-1 pitch that sailed over the left field wall.
Overall for the game, Williamson and sophomore Cortney Kivett went 2-for-3, while Chambers (1-for-2, 1 hit by pitch) claimed UO's other hit. Junior Carlyn Re reached base twice via walks, and senior Sari-Jane Jenkins and Ashley and Cortney Kivett added single bases on balls.
On the mound for the Ducks, Skillingstad registered her third career shutout, and her nine strikeouts was one off her season high (10) vs. then-No. 12 Missouri in 6 1/3 innings in late February. The Spokane, Wash., native allowed a season-low two hits Wednesday and walked three in her eighth complete game of the season.
"I felt OK about my performances except for the number of walks," Skillingstad said. "Even when there were runners on I felt confident, and felt like that made me concentrate even more. It's good to be back home again in front of our fans - I love playing here."
PSU's best chance to score came in the sixth inning after its second and third hitters in the lineup - Jamee Rauch and Jackie Heide - opened the inning with a walk and single. However, Skillingstad answered with a strikeout, and then forced fly balls to Williamson in right field, the second of which required Williamson to race to her right at full speed and make a diving catch to end the inning.
For Portland State (14-13), starting pitcher Tori Rogers worked the first 3 2/3 innings, struck out one, walked two, gave up four hits and both of her runs allowed were earned. Nicole Latham pitched the final 2 1/3 innings, struck out two, walked three and allowed only one hit and no runs. At the plate, the Vikings' other hit was an infield single by Heide with one out in the fourth that was knocked down a diving play by Cortney Kivett at third base.
Altogether, UO now owns an 18-4 record vs. PSU under seventh-year head coach Kathy Arendsen. UO's all-time advantage in the series dating back to 1974 improved to 101-60.
Looking ahead, Oregon continues its busy April home stretch with its second of nine straight home games this Friday, April 3 against No. 12 California (25-9, 2-1) at 4 p.m. UO then hosts No. 2 Stanford (31-2, 2-1) Saturday at 1 p.m. and Sunday at noon.
For Friday's tilt vs. Cal, fans that wear their ?Live Green Yell O' t-shirt will receive general admission for $1. Saturday's game vs. Stanford is a BiMart Family Day, meaning that groups of two adults and two children that show a Bi-Mart card at the Howe Field ticket window receive admission for only $10.
LINESCORE
OREGON 2, Portland State 0 (Apr 01, 2009 at Eugene, Ore.)
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Portland State...... 000 000 0 - 0 2 1 (14-13)
OREGON.............. 000 200 X - 2 5 0 (11-20, 0-4 Pac-10)
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Pitchers: Portland State - ROGERS, T.; LATHAM, N.(4). OREGON - Skillingstad, Sam.
Win-Skillingstad, Sam(8-7) Loss-ROGERS, T.(3-2) T-1:59 A-193
HR ORE - Williamson, Blair (2); Chambers, Lindsey (3).
Weather: 54, cloudy, wind 2-5 mph
- www.GoDucks.com -
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Skillingstad, Samantha (8-7)
L: ROGERS, T. (3-2)
Base Running:
SB: HEIDE, J. 1
HBP: WILSON, J. 1
Batting:
HR: Williamson, Blair 1 ; Chambers, Lindsey 1
RBI: Williamson, Blair 1 ; Chambers, Lindsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Williamson, Blair 1 ; Chambers, Lindsey 1
CS: Kivett, Cortney 1
HBP: Chambers, Lindsey 1
