PORTLAND ? Freshman right-hander Nichole Latham carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and sophomore third baseman De'Chauna Skinner went 2-for-3 with a home run and five RBI to lead Portland State to a 7-1 win over Idaho State, Friday afternoon at Erv Lind Stadium. The game was part of the first-annual Spring Fling, hosted by Portland State, Oregon and Oregon State.
The win was the fifth straight for the Vikings (14-16), while the Bengals (1-12) have now lost four straight. Idaho State fell 6-0 to Oregon State earlier Friday at Erv Lind Stadium.
Portland State scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning and that was all the offensive support Latham would need. Her no-hit bid was ended when freshman third baseman Vi Buchanan hit a lead-off triple in the seventh. Buchanan would later score on a two-out pinch-hit single by junior Ivy Sessions to also break-up the shutout.
Latham (5-6) allowed three hits and three walks, while striking out five, to earn the win.
Skinner had a two-run single to cap the four-run first inning. She then hit her first career home run with a three-run shot, with one out in the fifth inning, to make it 7-0. The RBI were also the first of Skinner's career.
Junior center fielder Jackie Heide hit her second home run of the year with a solo home run in the first inning to give the Vikings a 2-0 lead.
Sophomore right-hander Andrea Coburn (0-6) was charged with the loss, and was lifted after facing three batters in the first inning. She allowed two runs on two hits in 1/3 of an inning. Sophomore right-hander Kandis Clesson went the rest of the way, allowing five runs on eight hits and struck out one in 5 2/3 innings of relief.
Senior designated player Mandy Hill, junior second baseman Jamee Rauch and junior first baseman Jana Rae Slayton also had two hits each, as the Vikings recorded 10 hits on the day.
Portland State will travel to Corvallis for two games Saturday as the Spring Fling continues. The Vikings face will Oregon State at 1:15 p.m., and then follow with a rematch against the Bengals.
NOTES: The five-game win streak is the longest of the year for the Vikings and matches their longest win streak from last season ... Slayton has recorded a hit in 11 of the last 12 games, hitting .485 (16x33) during that stretch ... Friday's game was the first between the Bengals and Vikings since Idaho State reinstated softball last season ... Portland State now leads the all-time series 3-2 ... Portland State will be off Sunday before concluding the Spring Fling with home games Monday against UC Davis and Tuesday versus Oregon State.
Idaho State 000 000 1 - 1 3 1
Portland State 403 000 x - 7 10 1
ISU: Coburn, Clesson (1) and James, Chaffe (2). PSU: Latham and K. Wilson
W- Latham (5-6) L- Coburn (0-6) S- None
HR- PSU: Heide (2), Skinner (1)
T- 1:47 A- 161
