PORTLAND, Ore. - The Toledo softball team was defeated by Portland State in two games of a doubleheader in heartbreaking fashion on Wednesday night at the Gordon Faber Rec Complex. The Rockets fell victim to their second walk-off home run in as many games, falling 11-8 in the first matchup, and had a seventh-inning rally fall one run short, 6-5, in the second contest. Toledo's record dips to 10-9 on the season.

Portland State 11, Toledo 8
Freshman Bailey Curry went 4-for-5 with an extra-inning grand slam to give the Rockets a four-run lead in the eighth. Portland State tied the game at 8-8 and walked off on a three-run home run with one out in the bottom of the inning.

Freshman Kylie Norwood was a perfect 4-for-4, including her first collegiate home run, and scored three runs for the Toledo offense. In the circle, Maggie McGurk had her best outing as a Rocket. The freshman threw 3.0 innings, allowing one run on two hits and a walk.

How it Happened

• Toledo took the lead just three pitches into the game when Norwood launched her first career home run to right field. Freshman Ami Ill walked and scored on an RBI double by Curry. Junior Kaitlyn Bergman followed suit with an RBI double of her own to make it 3-0.
• Portland State responded with two runs to cut the lead to one, 3-2. A leadoff walk and a sacrifice bunt started the inning and an RBI triple put PSU on the board. An run-scoring single accounted for the Vikings other run in the inning.
• Another leadoff walk and a stole base sparked a Portland State rally in the third. The Vikings tied the game at 3-3 with an RBI double.
• Norwood, Ill and Curry each singled with two outs in the Toledo fourth to load the bases for Bergman. Bergman took one for the team as she was hit by a pitch for force in a run.
• The Rockets had a chance to close it out in the seventh, but Portland State put together three singles to tie the score at 4-4.
• In extra innings, junior Megan Choate reached on a fielder's choice, Norwood walked and Ill found her aboard to load the bases for Curry. Curry's second grand slam of the year gave Toledo an 8-4 advantage going to the bottom half of the inning.
• Portland State recorded five hits and capitalized on a Toledo error to score seven runs in the final half inning. The final blow was a walk-off three-run by Kaela Morrow.

Portland State 6, Toledo 5
The Rockets fell behind early, 4-1, but chipped away at the lead to pull within one run in the middle innings. Toledo matched Portland State run-for-run the rest of the way and loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but ultimately fell one run short.

Freshman Ebony Garza was a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate, including an RBI double in the third inning, while freshman Ami Ill and senior Ashley Rausch each tallied a pair of hits on the evening.

How it Happened 

• Toledo scored first again in the top of the opening inning. Ill singled, Curry doubled and Bergman grounded out to begin the scoring. 
• Again, Portland State answered right back in the bottom half. PSU's leadoff hitter homered to tie the game at 1-1.
• After two strikeouts by sophomore pitcher Alissa Noble, a hit batter and a walk put runners on for the Vikings in the second. The first PSU hit of the inning was a two-run single. An error extended the inning and led to an unearned run to make it 4-1 after two.
• Garza laid down a bunt single to begin the Toledo third and Norwood was hit by a pitch. Ill walked to load the bases for Curry. Curry found a way to drive in the run with a sacrifice fly to trim the deficit to 4-2.
• Toledo chiseled the lead by another when Rausch tripled with one out in the fourth and subsequently scored on Garza's RBI double down the right field line.
• A bases-loaded walk in the fifth and an unearned run in the sixth for Portland State made the score 6-3 going to the final inning.
• Garza, Norwood and Ill each singled with one out in the seventh to bring in the first run of the rally. Back-to-back walks from Bergman and freshman Taylor Weekly chase home another run and put the go-ahead run in scoring position. A ground out to second base ended the contest with Toledo still trailing by one.

The Rockets take a day off before battling No. 6 Oregon and Weber State on Friday, March 9. UT will also play Montana twice and Bryant during its three day stay in Eugene.