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TEMPE, Ariz. – Portland State spotted Cal State Northridge three runs in the first inning and never could quite come all the way in a 4-3 loss on Sunday at the Kajikawa Classic.

The Vikings came out flat, with Anna Bertrand walking three batters in the bottom of the first. PSU also committed an error in the inning and Cal State Northridge took advantage of it for three runs, two of which were earned.

PSU crept back into the contest with single runs in the second and third innings. Fresham Becca Bliss picked up her first hit as a Viking, bringing in Carly McEachran with an infield single in the second, and then Sadie Lopez blasted her first career home run with one out in the third.

Cal State Northridge pushed its lead to 4-2 in the fifth on an RBI-single by Samantha Sloniker, before Portland State attempted a comeback in their final turn at bat.

With one out in the top of the seventh, Lacey Holm hit a pinch-hit home run to left field, bringing the Vikings within one. PSU then chased Matadors starting pitcher Hannah Fraijo from the game after Bliss walked and Jenna Krogh reached on a infield single to put runners on first and second.

Reliever Carly Wade got the final two outs, though. to preserve the Matadors' victory, helping them improve to 3-2.

Portland State dropped its second straight game after a three-game winning streak. The Vikings are now 3-3 and play next weekend in Henderson, Nevada.

Bliss had two of PSU's six hits, while Danielle Lynn went 1-for-3.

Bertrand fell to 2-2, giving up three earned runs and five hits with seven strikeouts and five walks over six innings.

Fraijo got the win, allowing three earned runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

NOTES: PSU and Cal State Northridge meet up again next Friday in Henderson. First pich is at 11:15 a.m. PT ... the Matadors lead the all-time series with PSU, 8-2 ... the Vikings took both games from CSUN last season ... the game was played at South Mountain Community College instead of the Tempe Sports Complex, like PSU's previous five games of the tourney ... Holm, who suffered a slight knee injury against Nevada and didn't catch the final three games, came off the bench to go 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a walk in three pinch-hit opportunities. She leads the squad with five runs driven in ... the Vikings' five games in Henderson next weekend should feature live audio and live stats. Check back on GoViks.com on Monday evening for an updated announcement. 

LINESCORE:

Cal State Northridge 4, Portland State 3 (Feb 13, 2011 at Phoenix, Ariz.)
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Portland State...... 011 000 1 -  3  6  2      (3-3)
Cal State Northridge 300 100 X -  4  5  0      (3-2)
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Pitchers: Portland State - BERTRAND, Anna and NORRIE, Kayla. Cal State Northridge -
Fraijo, Hannah; Wade, Carly(7) and Thielges, Mikayla.
Win-Fraijo, Hannah(2-0)  Save-Wade, Carly(1)  Loss-BERTRAND, Anna(2-2)  T-1:57  A-116
HR PSU - LOPEZ, Sadie (1); HOLM, Lacey (1).
Weather: 60; Sunny