March 24, 2008

Final Stats

PORTLAND, Ore. - Pitcher Mandy Hill's infield grounder with one out in the eighth inning scored Jamee Rauch with the winning run, ending a pitching duel between Hill and Jessica Hancock, as host Portland State edged UC Davis 1-0 in a nonconference softball matchup on Monday afternoon.

UC Davis fell to 15-16 while Portland State improved to 16-17. The game was played as part of the Spring Fling Tournament being hosted by Portland State, Oregon and Oregon State.

The Aggies were scheduled to face Oregon State on Sunday but that twinbill was cancelled because of inclement weather. A makeup game on Monday with the Beavers was also cancelled leaving just the regularly scheduled matchup with the Vikings.

Monday's game featured a standout pitching matchup between Hill and Hancock who battled through seven scoreless innings before Portland State was able to score the winning run. Hancock, whose record moved to 10-9, struck out seven and walked none while scattering seven hits.

She set the Vikings down in order in three innings and stranded runners in scoring position in four others. In the eighth, a single and infield error gave Portland State runners at first and second with none out. A sacrifice moved both into scoring position before Hill's grounder to the right side plated Rauch with the game's only run.

That made a winner out of Hill who allowed just two hits to UC Davis; a one-out double to center-field by Trish Paine in the first inning, and an infield single to Deanna Menapace leading off the seventh. Menapace eventually made her way to third before Hill got out of the frame with a strikeout.

Hill had eight strikeouts and three walks, improving to 9-10.

UC Davis will conclude play at the Spring Fling on Tuesday with a noon game at Oregon.