March 23, 2004
Portland, Ore.-The Tigers finished up their Pacific Northwest trip with a sweep of the Portland State Vikings. The Tigers won game one 8-0 and game two 5-3. With the wins the Tigers improve to 13-18 on the season.
"The young women played well," said head coach Ty Singleton. "We still have some things that we need to work on as we prepare for our upcoming Big 12 season but the team is making steps in the right direction."
Starting in the circle for the Tigers in game one was Erin Kalka. She started her fourth game of the Tigers Pacific Northwest road trip and played her eighth complete game. She had three strikeouts, no runs and no walks for the game before Erica Petersen came in to close the game. Both pitchers threw for a combined 72 pitches and had 48 strikes between them.
The Tigers came out swinging their bats, with two singles in the first inning from Leanne Bowers and Morgan LeCluyse. With the bases loaded Alli Kennewell hit a three run triple, her first of the season, to give the Tigers the early lead in the top of the first inning.
The Tigers continued to pour in the runs in the third inning. Joanne Loethen had a double steal in the second inning to advance home and AJ White drove Leanne Bowers home on a single. The Tigers took a defensive stand in the bottom of the second inning, putting two Viking runners in the book with a double play to end the inning.
The Tigers added to their lead in the fourth inning getting a run from Joanne Loethen on a Viking error. The runs just kept coming for the Tigers when Morgan LeCluyse and Leanne Bowers were both driven home on a Heather Kunkel double, bringing the Tiger lead to 8-0, in the fourth.
In the second game of the doubleheader Erica Petersen got the start in the circle for the Tigers, her second start of the eight-day road trip. She was able to throw three strikeouts and had three runs and no walks in the game.
The Tigers started game two much like they started the first, in her first time at bat Leanne Bowers hit a double and then advanced home when Morgan LeCluyse grounded out to the shortstop, giving the Tigers the early 1-0 lead.
The Vikings started a little rally in the bottom of the first inning earning two hits on their first two trips at bat and then took the lead on a three-run home run by Kayla Lewis, bringing the score to 3-1, Vikings. The Tigers were unable to match the Vikings offense, going three up and three down in the second inning.
The Tigers made a pitching change in the bottom of the third inning bringing in Erin Kalka. The Tigers looked to get things going in the fourth inning and were able to get a double from Morgan LeCluyse and a single from Heather Kunkel. Morgan LeCluyse was driven home on a single by AJ White bringing the Viking lead to 3-2. The Tigers were able to tie the score at 3-3, after Heather Kunkel advanced home on a Viking error.
With the score tied in the fifth Kendra Power hit a double and then advanced to third on a passed ball before being driven home on a single by Joanne Loethen, Leanne Bowers who walked to reach base was also driven home on the Loethen single. With the two runs in the fifth inning the Tigers took a 5-3 lead and the game.
Kalka ended the game with eight strikeouts, no runs and no walks. With the win Kalka improves to 9-10 on the season and brings her season ERA to 2.00.
The Tigers will next be in action in San Marcos, Texas on Friday March 26, taking on Texas State before opening Big 12 conference play on Saturday March 27 at the University of Texas. The first pitch of the Texas State game is scheduled for 1PM (CST)