The Vikings won four games over two days to sweep the Yellowjackets in conference play. // Photo by Claudia Cooper
By Mitch Farley
Junior Jackie Lucido hit a walk-off homerun to give the Western softball team its fourth victory in the four-game series against Montana State University Billings on Sunday, March 3.
The Vikings won the game 18-9 in the bottom of the sixth inning due to the eight-run mercy rule, resulting in a sweep in the Vikings’ favor. It was the second game of a double-header at Robert S. Harrington Field, where the Vikings won their first game 3-1.
Lucido went 2-4 and had four RBIs on the night. Senior Emily Benson also had four RBIs and went a perfect 4-4 from the plate, including a three-run homerun right before Lucido’s.
As a team, the Vikings fared well from the plate going 15-31. Redshirt sophomore Mackenzie Palmer had three hits on five at bats and knocked in two runs.
The Vikings trailed by four runs until the bottom of the third inning when Palmer roped a line drive triple to right field with three runners on, knocking them all in. The Vikings proceeded to go on a 10-run rally to take the lead.
The Vikings held the lead for the rest of the game with solid pitching from sophomore Kira Doan. Doan pitched all six innings and had seven strikeouts.
The Vikings went on another eight-run rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. The inning began with Benson getting hit by a pitch. They then batted through the entire lineup and finished the game with Benson hitting a solo homer.
The Vikings’ next game is against Concordia University at Porter Park in Portland on Saturday, March 9.
