Miesbach's Pinch-Hit Grand Slam Lifts Vikings Past Bears

Junior right-hander Mandy Hill (13-13) earned the win in relief.

Freshman Meredith Miesbach hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie. Photo; PSU Athletics

PORTLAND - Freshman Meredith Miesbach hit a pinch-hit grand slam with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie and lift Portland State to a 6-2 win over Northern Colorado Saturday afternoon at Erv Lind Stadium, in the rubber-match of this weekend’s three-game series.

Trailing 2-1, the Vikings scored five runs in the sixth inning.

Sophomore second baseman Jackie Heide and sophomore first baseman Jana Rae Slayton started the rally by drawing back-to-back two-out walks.

Freshman Sammy Taylor tied the game with an RBI single just over the glove of diving second baseman Kelsey Dumler, scoring Heide to make it 2-2.

Dumler, who started the game, would come back in to pitch in place of sophomore right-hander Hillarie VanOtterloo and walked freshman third baseman De’Chauna Skinner to load the bases for Miesbach.

Miesbach would hit Dumler’s 2-1 offering over the center field fence for her first career home run and break the 2-2 tie.

Junior right-hander Mandy Hill (13-13) earned the win in relief. She allowed one hit and struck out two in 2 2/3 scoreless innings.

VanOtterloo (2-10) was charged with the loss, allowing three runs on one hit and two walks in 2/3 of an inning of relief. She entered the game in the sixth for Dumler with the Bears leading 2-1.

Dumler, a senior right-hander, worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on three hits and four walks and struck out three in taking the no decision.

Portland State freshman right-hander Janice Damo allowed two runs, one earned, on three hits and one walk, while striking out two in 4 1/3 innings.

Both teams recorded four hits each.

Northern Colorado took a 1-0 lead in the third on a two-out triple by freshman designated player Jessica Schoepflin, scoring senior center fielder Casey Hogue, who reached on a single.

Portland State tied the game in the bottom of the third. With Skinner on second, junior center fielder Stephanie Bean grounded out to short, allowing Skinner to advance to third. Skinner would score from third on the play on a throwing error by Bears first baseman Addie Yestness.

The Bears regained the lead in the fifth. Sophomore left fielder Alyse Kochenberger led-off with a single and advanced to second on a passed ball.

After first baseman Yestness advanced Kochenberger to third on a sacrifice bunt, shortstop Laura Christianson’s sacrifice fly to center plated Kochenberger to make it 2-1.

Portland State will return to action Friday afternoon when the Vikings host Sacramento State to open Pacific Coast Softball Conference play.

The two teams will play a doubleheader starting at noon at Erv Lind Stadium to open the four-game series.

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